Officer Recovering after Attack by Pit Bull Dogs
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GIBSON COUNTY, Tenn. – Bradford Assistant Police Chief is at home recovering from an attack by two pit bull dogs police said were running loose across the city, Thursday. Officers said Assistant Chief Dave Chaffin was attacked after responding to a call about the dogs roaming on East Main Street early Thursday morning. Chaffin followed the dogs along the adjacent Cantrell Street, where the dog‘s owner lives. According to police, the dogs charged Chaffin in the driveway as he stepped out of his patrol car, knocked him down then bit several times rolling Chaffin into the street. Investigators said he was able to get to his gun and fire off a shot to scare them away. “When he exited his patrol car that’s when the two dogs attacked him,” Patrolman Brad Hardin said, with Bradford Police. “He does have the one puncture wound to the leg and then the rest of his injuries are on his arms, abrasions and scraps from where he was on the ground rolling around with the dogs.” Police said this attack could have been avoided if the dogs had been secured properly, and they said this isn‘t the first time an officer or city employee has been injured or put in danger by animals running at large. There are calls of animals running loose in the city of Bradford on a daily basis, said police. The dogs‘ owner Sandra Montgomery told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News her pit bulls are always secured. She said she doesn‘t know how they got loose but that her pit bulls are very sweet and have never bitten anyone before. Montgomery believes her dogs would only bite when provoked. “That didn’t make sense either not when I’m seeing him chase my dogs down the road from their property and he took a shot at them and missed. Princess, she doesn‘t even hurt a cat and Fathead he’s the youngest one… he just wants to lick and play,” said Sandra Montgomery. “I think he honestly done something to make my dogs to make either one of them bite him.” Neither dog is up to date on vaccinations. Police said they were both taken to the pound to be quarantined until a judge decides their fate. “Were going to enforce our zero tolerance policy,” Hardin said. “We are going to take it the full extent of the law.” Montgomery was given a summons to appear in general sessions court for allowing the animals to run at large. Police said she could be civilly responsible for all medical bills in this case. Officials said this is the second time Assistant Chief Chaffin has been bitten by a dog while on duty. This incident is categorized as the worst animal attack on a Bradford Officer to date. Chaffin was treated in the emergency room for his wounds; he is now at home recovering. There is no word yet on how long he will be off the job.
