Dog owner turns self in after attacks

Published Saturday, May 13, 2006

INDEPENDENCE (AP) - A pit bull owner whose dogs attacked three men faces 10 municipal charges.

Paul Piper, 43, was charged Thursday with one count of second-degree aggravated assault and three counts of failure to contain a dangerous dog. He was also charged with one count of failure to vaccinate against rabies, two counts of failure to display rabies vaccinations tags and three counts of failure to restrain his dogs, Independence police spokesman Tom Gentry said yesterday.

Piper turned himself in Thursday to the Kansas City Police Department.

Police had sought Piper since shortly after the three victims were attacked May 4 within a block of each other.

The three dogs attacked one man while he was out walking, police said. A witness drove off the dogs with a tire iron.

Another man was attacked nearby while mowing grass in a field. Initially in critical condition, he remained in serious condition yesterday. He suffered extensive bites to the arms, upper body, face and head.

The third victim was attacked while cutting his grass and drove himself to a hospital.

After finding the dogs running lose, police shot and killed the animals.