The owners of the pit bull that attacked a father and his young son last month in Canandaigua have been criminally charged.
Canandaigua Police say they have charged 27-year-old Casey Murphy and 26-year-old Madison Herendeen with two counts of reckless assault that caused physical injuries, and a single count of reckless endangerment.
The duo, who live in Canandaigua, are accused of engaging in reckless conduct by allowing the dog to run at large and attack a 43-year-old Rochester man and his 10-year-old son as they walked on South Main Street on the morning of August 29. Police say the father and son were near Coy Street when the tan pit bull suddenly approached from behind and attacked the child. When the father attempted to protect his son, the dog turned on him. The child managed to escape and seek refuge in a nearby business. Several good Samaritans stepped in to help, eventually subduing the dog as it continued to attack the father.
Police say the reckless endangerment charge stems from the couple allowing the dog to run at large while knowing the dog had a history of biting others, subsequently causing serious physical injury to one of the victims.
This pit bull was previously involved in an attack on August 12th, when it ran loose and injured a 3-year-old child playing in their yard on Chapin Street. That investigation was turned over to the Ontario County Humane Society. Just a week later, the dog was found running free again on Chapin Street, and the owners were issued a summons by Canandaigua Police.
The Ontario County Humane Society currently has possession of the dog.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the three victims.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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