Bee Staff
A Placer County Superior Court judge has ordered the killing of four pit bulls which mauled a teen, according to the Auburn Police Department. The judge called the owners' negligence "simply astonishing."
Judge Joseph O'Flaherty also banned owner Daniel Coverston from "owning, possessing, controlling or having custody of any dog for three years" in Placer County or Auburn.
The 17-year-old victim suffered major but not life-threatening injuries, the judge's ruling and media reports indicated.
The ruling issued on Thursday also found that Coverston was aware of the danger that the dogs posed and failed to protect the community from such an attack.
In his ruling, the judge said Coverston showed "no detectable emotion or remorse" in his testimony and was "clueless" to the danger he caused by not properly securing his animals.
The Bee was unable to contact Coverston.
However, the Auburn Journal newspaper reported that Coverston's attorney said his client was "remorseful for what the dogs did. He wishes he would've put other security measures in place that would've helped them from getting out."
To read that account, click here.
Coverston can appeal the ruling, according to a release from the Auburn Police Department.
The attack, which the judge called "unprovoked," happened on Sept. 16 as the victim was standing in a parking lot of Big O Tires in the 900 block of Lincoln Way, waiting to dine with his parents, the ruling states.
The four pit bulls, roaming the street, knocked the teen down "biting him numerous times on both his upper and lower body," the release states.
The teen was saved from further injury by an employee of Big O Tires, who drove off the animals, armed only with a wrench, and the employee's girlfriend, who pulled the victim into a vehicle, the ruling states
"The City of Auburn recognizes the outcome of this proceeding will no doubt be met with mixed emotion," Police Chief Valerie Harris said in a prepared statement. "We can all agree the injuries suffered by the victim deserve our empathy and express the highest appreciation for two courageous individuals that came to the aide of the teen. The directive to destroy the animals is necessary to ensure the highest degree of public safety within the Auburn Community.
"The Auburn Police Department will work closely with the City Attorney to determine all procedural requirements that must be met prior to the destruction of the animals as directed by the court. The City is also mindful of Mr. Coverston's rights to appeal this decision..."
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