Passerby Called Hero in Pit Bull Attack
July 4 -- A Sacramento, Calif., construction worker may have saved a 43-year-old woman's life when he pulled three attacking pit bulls off of her.
Debra Scott was listed in fair condition Tuesday night at the University of California-Davis Medical Center after doctors were able to repair a torn artery in her thigh. She was originally listed in serious condition as doctors feared she might bleed to death.
Had the construction worker not seen the attack as he was driving to work early Tuesday and jumped in to try and help, she might well have died, police said.
"In my mind, he's the real hero here," Sacramento Police Department Sgt. Daniel Hahn said. "He steps out of his car and takes on three pit bulls without a gun or anything. That takes a lot of courage.
"I mean, if you can think about three pit bulls attacking somebody and you go in to stop it, they're probably going to start attacking you," he added. "This person I'm sure knew all that and still attempted to save this woman's life."
Felony Charges Possible
The construction worker, whose name was not released, was unable to get the dogs off the woman, but helped distract them until a Sacramento Sheriff's Department deputy arrived. The deputy shot at the dogs, killing one, Hahn said.
The other two ran off and were tracked to a nearby home, though police have not yet been able to identify the dogs' owner, he said. The pit bulls, both males, were being held by animal control officers as potential evidence if the owner is found, and were also being tested for rabies.
If the owner is found and it turns out the dogs were trained to fight or attack, felony charges could be filed.
"If the owners had these dogs attack this woman, that's a felony, or if the owners had these dogs trained to attack, that's a felony," Hahn said. "And then there's the consideration of whether these people properly had these dogs restrained."
Neighbors of the home where the dogs were found told the Sacramento Bee that they often see the animals roaming the streets alone, but said they had never heard of anyone being attacked by them.
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