Officers Forced to Subdue an Unleashed Pit Bull while Responding to a Call for a Person with a Gun in Dorchester

At about 10:30pm, on Saturday, January 19, 2013, officers from District B-3 (Mattapan) received a call for an altercation possibly involving a person with a gun in the area of 34 Millet Street in Dorchester. On arrival, officers promptly set up a perimeter around the house. As officers were walking along the side of the residence, officers observed an unleashed pit bull running towards them from the rear of the residence. Upon seeing the dog, officers immediately yelled, “Pit bull,” so as to alert all responding officers of the potential threat. With the dog aggressively pursuing the officers, the officers quickly retreated to the front of the residence. However, the dog refused to discontinue its pursuit. Once out front, the dog repeatedly lunged and charged at one of the officers. Fearing for their safety, officers unholstered and engaged their department issued firearms to stop the dog.

For evaluation purposes, two officers, who sustained minor injuries during the attack, were transported to the Brigham & Women’s Hospital

While the outside scene was being secured, officers entered the residence to investigate the original call for a person with a gun. After a protective sweep of the location was completed, no person with a firearm was located.