A pet owner has been arrested after 10 of his dogs allegedly mauled a teenager while she was out for a jog in San Bernardino County, authorities announced this week.
The Barstow Sheriff’s Department identified the suspect as Craig Arthur Simmons, 61, of Newberry Springs.
The attack happened around 8 a.m. on July 17, according to officials, on the 30000 block of Newberry Road in Newberry Springs — the area where Simmons purportedly resided with over a dozen dogs, some of which were not fenced or leashed at the time.
The victim, only identified as a 17-year-old girl, was out jogging when a pack of 10 large dogs suddenly converged on her, her parents said.
The dogs bit her several times on her arms and legs, leaving her with large lacerations, abrasions and removed flesh. A good Samaritan spotted the attack and was able to rescue the girl from the canines, and she was then transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center due to the extent of her injuries.
San Bernardino Animal Control workers seized 16 dogs from the area in connection with the attack, and detectives opened a criminal investigation.
On Wednesday, Aug. 13, deputies were conducting surveillance on Simmons’ home when they saw the dog owner riding his bike down the road.
Details on his arrest are limited; the sheriff’s department only said Simmons was contacted and taken into custody for the dog mauling.
Simmons was then interviewed at the Barstow Station and booked into High Desert Detention Center without incident for being the owner of an animal that caused serious bodily injury or death. He was kept in custody, and his court date was set for Friday, Aug. 15.
Authorities did not immediately provide an update on the teen’s status.
Alexis Lewis and Vivian Chow contributed to this report.
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