Police in Texas have filed criminal charges against a man after they discovered that seven of his dogs allegedly fatally attacked a 71-year-old man in an unprovoked assault, authorities said.
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s office charged Samuel Cartwright, 47, with “attack by dog resulting in death” for the dogs’ allegedly killing of local man Freddy Garcia.
Garcia was on his way to a neighborhood store on July 18 in Fresno, located just south of Houston, when seven Pitbull mixed-breed dogs allegedly attacked him around 1:30 p.m. He was transported by helicopter to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston, where he was later pronounced dead, said Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan.
Authorities thought the canines were strays at first, but then officers began an investigation to see if they belonged to someone. According to KTRK, law enforcement identified Cartwright as the dogs’ owner.
Cartwright claimed the dogs did not belong to him and that he phoned animal control as soon as he noticed them on his property. He said around 20 stray dogs lived in the area, and “people just dump them around here.”
Four of the seven dogs were found by police one day after the incident. By last Friday, all seven canines had been taken by sheriff’s deputies and animal control, according to authorities.
Fagan said that Garcia “did nothing to provoke the animals.” He was walking on a sidewalk, and the dogs attacked “for no reason.”
“This is a tragic, tragic incident. It was uncalled for. It was senseless,” Fagan said. “This devastating tragedy didn’t have to happen. I extend my deepest condolences to the Garcia family and his neighbors as they adjust to the loss of Mr. Garcia.”
During the press conference, Fort Bend District Attorney Brian Middleton called Garcia’s death “tragic” and cautioned dog owners to keep their pets under control.
“If you have a dangerous dog, it is your responsibility to keep that dog secure to keep the members of our community safe,” Middleton said. “If you fail to do that, you will be held accountable.”