Tag Archives: Arkansas

2015 Dog Bite Fatality: Pack of Pit Bulls Kill Man in Jefferson County, Arkansas

Pleads No Contest UPDATE 04/18/16: The owner of a pack of pit bulls that killed a man last year pleaded no contest to a felony charge in exchange for a 3-year prison term. John Chester Smith, 63, entered the plea in a Jefferson-Lincoln County Circuit Court and will be sentenced in June, Prosecuting Attorney S. Kyle Hunter said. “The judge deferred sentencing so that Smith could get his business affairs in order,” Hunter explained. The victim, 36-year old De’Trick Omar Johnson… [Read full blog post]

2015 Dog Bite Fatality: 63-Year Old Arkansas Man Killed by Three Pit Bulls

UPDATE 07/18/15: In a July 17 email correspondence with Johnson County Sheriff Larry Jones, the sheriff confirmed that the attacking dogs were pit bulls. Three pit bulls were involved in the fatal dog mauling of Frederick Crutchfield, 63-years old of Hartman. In the email exchange, Sheriff Jones also answered our other questions. The dogs were not chained, the deadly attack occurred on the dog owner's property and Crutchfield knew the pit bulls well, according to Sheriff… [Read full blog post]

Criminal Trial: Arkansas Mother and Daughter on Trial for Fatal Dog Mauling of Joan Kappen

One of Two Victims Killed by Littermate Dogs in a 5-Month Period The criminal trial is underway after Joan Kappen, 75, was killed by a bullmastiff-mix. Both Found Guilty archived UPDATE 10/09/14: Some of our readers followed the live Twitter feed last night as the jury deliberated and reached a verdict. Though both were found guilty, Brande Coy was only found guilty of "misdemeanor" negligent homicide. Brande had been charged with felony manslaughter and deserved a felony… [Read full blog post]

2014 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Killed by Family Pit Bull in Cave City, Arkansas

Vicious Dog Ordinance UPDATE 10/24/14: The mauling death of 75-year old Alice Payne by her pet pit bull on September 26 has prompted Cave City Council members to consider a vicious dog ordinance. In the days following the deadly attack, Cave City Police Chief Nate Stephens asked council members to consider one. The first discussion of the possible ordinance is set for October 28 at the Cave City City Hall. Stephens recently discussed pit bulls on the police department Facebo… [Read full blog post]