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2 pit bulls shot by deputies making arrest

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TBO.com

Published: March 10, 2010

Updated: 03/10/2010 11:23 am

Two pit bulls were fatally shot this morning by deputies trying to arrest a suspect in Valrico, the sheriff's office said.

About 8:30 a.m., deputies arrived at 1221 N. Valrico Road to pick up Garrett McGall, 23, on probation violation charges. McGall was inside the home with six pit bulls and refused to leave.

Deputies pepper-sprayed the dogs as the door opened, but the pit bulls appeared to be unaffected, the sheriff's office said.

As Detective Albert Padron tried arresting McGall, one of the dogs lunged at him and was fatally shot by Detective John Masson.

Another pit bull came out of the home, jumped over McGall and Padron and charged toward Masson. Cpl. David Waytovich fatally shot that dog.

Five shots were fired during the incident, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

Animal Services officers have been called to secure the four other dogs.

McGall was taken into custody. His probation is slated to end Aug. 1, according to the state Department of Corrections.

Padron is a 25-year department veteran, Masson is a 15-year veteran and Waytovich has spent 20 years with the sheriff's office.

Neighbor Joshua Quinn said he witnessed the incident while walking his own pit bull. He said the dogs appeared to have been affected by the pepper spray and that investigators could have secured the scene without killing the animals.

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