The New York State Police are reporting today that state troopers and town of Saugerties police officers shot and killed a pit bull after it attacked three people, including an infant, in a Saugerties home yesterday.
The infant was reportedly saved from further attack by a Time Warner Cable employee named David Dargan, who was in the home for a service call. Dargan was also injured, but was treated and released from Kingston Hospital.
The infant was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center to undergo reconstructive surgery, the press release states. The third victim, 59-year-old Patricia Risley, was taken to Albany Medical Center to be treated for possible ligament damage.
The Daily Freeman has more information about the attack, including the fact that Risley was the infant's babysitter and that the dog belonged to her son:
[State police Senior Investigator Peter] Kusminsky said the pit bull belonged to the baby sitter’s son, but “we’re not quite sure yet how it got access to the child.
Here's the State Police press release in full:
Police respond to Saugerties residence for report of 3 month child attacked by dog.
On February 18, 2011, Troopers and officers from the Town of Saugerties Police Department responded to a 911 poll for two subjects bitten by a dog located at 16 Birchwood Dr. South Saugerties, NY.
Upon arrival, it was discovered that three individuals, Patricia Risley (59 years old), David Dargan (33 years old), and a three month old infant, had been attacked by a pit bull dog within the residence. Dargan, a Time Warner Cable employee who was at the residence on a service call, had restrained the dog to prevent it from continuing to attack the infant. Troopers along with Town of Saugerties police officers dispatched the dog. The infant was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center for reconstructive surgery. Risley was transported to Albany Medical Center for possible ligament damage. Dargan was treated at Kingston Hospital and released. The NYSP is continuing an investigation into this matter.
