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Dog Attacks 2nd Child In 4 Years

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By LAURA FRAZIER and JOSH POLTILOVE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 25, 2009

RIVERVIEW - Four years ago, an American bulldog named Prince Charming attacked Rocky Tolison's stepson, Richard Neal, in a house on Yale Circle - and the boy's injuries were so severe he needed 128 stitches, Tolison said.

On Feb. 14, investigators say, Prince Charming attacked again, this time a different boy on the same street in the Ivy Estates subdivision just south of Brandon off Bloomingdale Avenue. The child needed three stitches below his right elbow.

Hillsborough County Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said the bulldog wasn't provoked in either incident. Her agency seized the 5-year-old dog the day after the second attack, and Ryan said he ultimately may be euthanized.

"You cannot put a dog like this out in the community again," she said.

The dog's owner, Lisa Johnson, 39, was arrested Feb. 16 and released from jail on $500 bail. She was charged with culpable negligence and reckless disregard of a dog's propensity to bite, both misdemeanors.

A person who answered the door Feb. 17 at Johnson's home, 3427 Yale Circle, declined comment.

Investigators say the latest attack happened when Jonathan Martinez, 10, was riding his bicycle in front of his house across the street from Johnson's residence.

The boy's father, Edwin Martinez, said he never saw a dog run so fast.

"It's not like the dog just went to bite him on the leg," Martinez said. "It knocked him off his bike and attacked him."

Jonathan, a fourth-grader at Symmes Elementary School, said he saw Prince Charming barking and jumping up at the windows inside Johnson's house moments before the attack.

"Then the dog was outside and running, and it just attacked me on my arm," he said. "It almost tried to charge me again, and I was gonna hit it with my helmet, but I got mad and just ran home."

Edwin Martinez said Johnson later came to the boy's house with her daughter, crying. He said she told the family she was sorry and that it was the first time something like that had happened.

When Martinez learned about the 2004 attack, he filed a police report and contacted animal services.

"I had to call animal control or it was going to be on my conscience if that dog came out and killed a kid," he said.

After the first attack, a hearing master declined a request to have Prince Charming taken away from Johnson, saying it was a first-time occurrence.

In that incident, the dog attacked Tolinson's stepson when the boy, who was about 10 at the time, came to Johnson's home to watch a movie with her daughter. When the boy walked in the door, the dog went for him, his stepfather said.

"The dog attacked my son and ripped his face open," Tolinson said. "The muscles in his cheeks were hanging out of his face. ... I wouldn't let him look in any mirrors. I wouldn't let him see how bad his face was."

Tolinson said his stepson, now 14, will be scarred for life as a result of the attack.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691. Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523.

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