LITTLEROCK – Authorities have arrested a 29-year-old man and seized six pit bulls and two mixed-breed dogs from the man’s property in connection with the deadly mauling of a 63-year-old woman in Littlerock Thursday morning.
The dog attack occurred around 9:30 a.m. on 116th Street East and Avenue S in Littlerock, according to the latest information released from the Sheriff’s Department.
A 63-year-old woman was out for a morning walk when she was attacked by at least four large dogs, according to Lt. John Corina of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.
“A young woman was driving down Avenue S when she saw a pack of dogs attacking a woman who was on the ground,” said Corina, adding that the driver honked her horn in an attempt to stop the attack. “When she did that the dogs attacked her truck,” Corina added.
The driver contacted authorities, and when the first deputy arrived, he saw a female being attacked by a pit bull, Corina said.
“The deputy fired rounds from his firearm towards the pit bull dog causing the attacking dog to flee northbound toward the desert,” Corina said. “A search for the dogs ensued.”
Dozens of deputies joined animal control officers and a sheriff’s helicopter in a daylong search for the dogs. Officials went door-to-door in search of the dogs, and several Littlerock residents were very cooperative in allowing deputies to search their properties for dogs resembling the attacking dogs, Corina said.
Several dogs that matched the description of the attacking dogs were ruled out, according to Corina.
Thursday afternoon, County Supervisor Michael Antonovich announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the dogs involved in the attack.
A few hours later, tips from residents led authorities to a home in the 37300 Block of 115th Street East, where pit bulls resided that “had been aggressive in the past,” Corina said.
When the tenants refused to allow authorities on the property, detectives obtained a search warrant.
At least two people inside the home were detained, as authorities searched the home.
Detectives discovered a marijuana grow on the property, Corina said. A 29-year-old man, whose name was not immediately released, was arrested at the property for cultivation of marijuana.
Animal Control also seized eight large dogs from the property – six pit bulls and two mixed breeds, Corina said. The dogs were being taken to the nearest animal control shelter to be examined, he said.
“We’ll probably try and get some kind of DNA off the dogs to match the victim to see if they are the ones that attacked the victim,” Corina said.
“We’re still asking the public around here in the Littlerock area, if you see a group of pit bulls running around to call animal control because we’re still not sure if these are the dogs that did the attack,” Corina said.
LASD Homicide Bureau with the assistance of DACC will determine whether the dogs taken into custody were involved in the death of the 63-year-old woman, a sheriff’s press release states. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause of death of the 63-year-old female resident of Littlerock, according to the release.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
Previous related story: BREAKING NEWS: Woman dead after vicious dog mauling
UPDATED: The 63-year-old victim has been identified as Pamela Marie Devitt of Littlerock, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
PleaseDontBlameTheBreed says
First off I am so sorry for this poor woman and her family and loves ones. This should never happen. And sadly with that many dogs there isn’t much that could have been done alone by herself.
I am relieved that these comments aren’t calling out all “pits” and pit mixes as vicious killers. These specific dogs obviously need to be euthanized. That is not in question. And from what I have heard Animal Control is doing exactly what is expected from an AC operation dealing with something like this. Laws against this breed are not the answer and are cruel for all responsible owners who’s “pits” are no more dangerous than a lab or a poodle.
“Pits” can be great dogs, most are. They are family pets, service dogs, they visit hospitals and rest homes, Mike Vick’s fighting dogs are now visiting little kids in schools to through special reading programs. These dogs are smart and loyal. The problem more times than not is the owner. Show me a mauling case, no matter the breed and you will find an irresponsible owner. I hope he is held responsible.
sikntired says
Actually a couple of the dogs were not Pits but its the pack mentality that controls them in a situation like this.You do have to admit though that Pits are muscular.and have a bite radius that is hellish, and when they bite the have an iron jaw.For this reason these criminal types want them around to guard their illegal activities.I still don’t understand why some of them were not removed in January when they first visited that home.
Ruben diaz says
well said dogs in a group is no good ..
PleaseDontBlameTheBreed says
I agree completely
tawn says
Well said! thank you!
J says
First off I am so sorry for this poor woman and her family and friends. This should never have happened.
Secondly, I was relieved not to see the majority of th
Michael Rives says
I wonder if the deceased lady carried a walking stick or something? I notice in Lancaster that people who regularly walk carry a stick or cane for protection against animals and people. I noticed some elderly lady walking with an elderly gentleman down 10th St West one day. She was carrying a hatchet.
sikntired says
Kcal nine reports her husband stated she had her Ipod and may not have heard them coming.I carry a metal bat, not sure that would do much to a pack of dogs.
Maybe a twenty two would.
Hate to say it but we live in a tough world, cant be jogging and walking with music plugged in and not being observant, although in this case I am not sure if anything could be done, when the dogs were biting the other woman’s tires.
I really don’t know about a hatchet, maybe.
USA land of the FREE says
Bottom line. Its the owners faults (if the dogs have owners). People have to remember that the desert is a like a treeless forest and need to excercise caution.
County officials dis all they can do to “manage” private matters and issues.
Suffice to say that all the rules and regulations in place in LA COUNTY has not made
it SHRANGRI-LA.
Solution = Private citizens taking responsibilty not being told what to do by GOVernment
USA land of the FREE says
Perhaps a BUDGET INCREASE is needed for animal control.
Also.
Perhaps citizens need to pay more taxes so animal control can manage their pets.
1 Animal control officer per 150K people in La County. And not all of them are on the streets. Idiots.
Japanese says
Animal Control does a find job. Remember, picking up strays isn’t on the top of the County Budget List. If people want more services from public contracting services, the PAY MORE TAXES. Labor isn’t free, unless you live in some Communist country
nadia says
R.I.P. dear lady that got mauled. True the L.A. County Animal Control is overwhelmed with so many strays (cats and dogs). Main reason people live out in the boondocks nowadays is to hide their criminal activities. This poor lady didn’t have to die, but the careless and irresponsible dog owner is completely responsible. It’s sad that a person cannot go for a healthy walk due to the packs of dogs running wild.
Japanese says
“Main reason people live out in the boondocks nowadays is to hide their criminal activities” Littlerock-Sunvillage is a town of 16K.
In 1995 there was only 1 red light intersection with in Palmdale and none in Quartz Hill or Littlerock. This whole area was the boondocks.
Also, the home were the arrest were made is valued at 140K today from a previous 2007 high of 210K.
research before making statements.
samuel says
… you can tell a lot about a person, by the dogs they keep. The three most preferred breeds of canines kept by the wonderful residents of the Pearblossom, Littlerock, Lake Los Angeles conurbations: (1) Rottweilers, (2) Dobermans, and (3) pit-bulls — asj.
USA land of the FREE says
Maybe it has something to do with a nation wide trend in keeping large muscular dogs.
Or perhaps it has something to do with the fact that cities like Palmdale and Lancaster have banned people from owning products such as Pitbulls.
In the USSR they used to banned this and that.
sammy P says
There are just not enough Animal Control officers to deal with the animal issues we have here, it can take days for them to respond to a call sometimes but its not their fault, its just too few trucks/officers for the huge amount of land they have to deal with.
There is always a fire station close by where someone can drop off an unwanted baby with no questions asked – well perhaps the same should be true for unwanted dogs, because some people are too lazy to drive all the way to avenue I in lancaster to drop off a dog (the fee probably discourages them as well) and the desert is always close by so thats where they get dumped. Then they form packs and wander the streets.
We need a doggy drop off place in palmdale, pearblossom and lake la where people can drop off unwanted pets with no fee and no questions asked.
Former Litterock Resident says
Doesn’t suprise me.
I lived in Littlerock for 15 years. It was a nice place to live when I first moved there – lots of land, quiet, peaceful, beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
But things changed. By 2007 I was completely tired and fustrated with the drugs, packs of feral dogs roaming the streets, and the constant shaking of my walls from the loud music – from everywhere – every weekend.
My complaints to law enforcement and animal control were completely fruitless. After years of trying to change things I was completely frustrated and moved.
Now law enforcement and animal control are calling upon the public’s help to find these packs of dogs? Where were they 10 years ago when I complained? Ignore a problem like this and a tragedy is bound to happen. What I am suprised about is that it took so long to occur.
Nancy P says
Just like ignoring kids doing petty crimes. It gets worse and worse when nothing is done about it.
USA land of the FREE says
Its not the governments job to “change” people. Its peoples. Unless your people pushing your around telling you how to live.
Funny how some people always want the government to do this and that for them.
Yet they don’t like it when the Master takes out his whip or his freedoms.
Just remember Apartheid in the USA or the Israelis in Egypt. Age old issue.
NRA member says
That’s why I have my gun with me, when I go hiking.. Poor lady could have at least pepper spray, could save her life..
so sad says
true ! pepper spray comes in handy sometimes … ugh but so sad she did not have to die that way :*(
Karin says
Sorry to say pepper spray would have little to no effect on 6 dogs. I have personally watched 2 pit bulls be pepper sprayed and hit with bean bag rounds and still attack an officer. The dogs go into fight mode and nothing short of killing them will stop them in some cases. Sad thing about this is that the dogs were most likely made to be like this.
John Howard says
Iron spike works.. but if you only have 2 thumbs are there are more than 2 dogs well.. then.. not good..
sikntired says
You bring up a good point.When the gov.cannot protect us by patrolling and ridding the county areas of packs of roaming dogs we have to protect ourselves or be imprisoned in our own homes.
When my husband was alive he would admonish me every time I took the dogs out to take a gun with me and I laughed at him and blew it off.Now I am rethinking his advice, what’s the penalty for carrying a weapon without permit compared to dying on the street.
This is a horrible wake up call to be on guard at all times, and I don’t live in Littlerock or Lake L.A. but in a quiet residential area.Still there are stray dogs so what do you do? My metal bat would be useless against a pack of dogs.
So sad, this poor woman trying to be active and take care of her health, just horrific.
Dinky says
Poor lady she didn’t have a chance