Neighbor fires shots at dogs after MLGW worker attacked
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — An MLGW worker was attacked by a dog while checking for a faulty meter, leading to a shooting in a resident’s backyard, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 8 a.m. on Saturday, deputies responded to a house in the 4200 block of Hickory Run Place, where a Memphis Light, Gas, and Water worker was reportedly bitten by a bull mastiff. Reports say the worker was suffering from severe lacerations from the attack.
Police say man pointed gun, sped away in traffic stop
Neighbor John Laiche stated that he was at his home next door when he heard someone yelling for help.
“And he was screaming, please help me, God help me, God help, it was horrible,” Laiche said. “Like a bear attack, it was just horrible, deep growls and ferocious barks. It was just unbelievable.”
Laiche said that he saw the MLGW employee pull into the driveway of the home and watched the employee speak with the homeowner, who he says restrained the dogs and put them inside.
“30 seconds later it was just horrible,” he said. “We could only hear so much because we were over in our yards and it’s one of those things you’re processing like how could this happen? The dogs are inside. No way did the dogs get out of the back door, knowing that somebody is back there.”
Laiche said once he heard the screaming he grabbed his gun and went to his neighbor’s backyard.
“I fired one shot into the ground and proceeded forward and that’s when I saw one of the dogs approaching me and I fired at him,” he said. “At this point the dogs were the threat and it was just a really bad situation of trying to figure out where the MLGW guy was and the dog approaches me again and I fired a second shot and at that point, the MLGW guy comes out of the house.”
Laiche said that despite shooting at the dogs, they continued to run at the employee.
“I never heard the dog yelp or anything so I just assumed I was missing him,” Laiche said. “All he kept saying was, ‘Why did they let those dogs out in the backyard? Why would they do that? I don’t understand why they would let those dogs out. He said ‘The back door opened up and they ran out at me.'”
The dog’s owner told investigators he was further trying to secure his dogs when they made it past him and into the backyard where the MLGW employee was working.
SCSO says the two bull mastiffs were eventually secured inside the house by the homeowner after the incident, and the MLGW worker was transported to Baptist East in stable condition.
Laiche says many people in the neighborhood have been fearful of the dogs for months, concerned for the safety of their children, as well as their pets.
“Everyone is living in fear and we want the dogs gone,” said Laiche.
While there was initially confusion over whether the dogs had been hit by gunfire, the sheriff’s office said Tuesday the dogs were not hit.
No one came to the door when we attempted to speak to the dog’s owner.
The homeowner was cited with a county ordinance violation of Sec. 4-105. – Dogs not declared dangerous/vicious.
Video captured by a neighbor shows a dog being picked up Monday afternoon by what seems to be animal control.
Animal control is part of the Shelby County Health Department and WREG has reached out to them for the status of the dogs. We are waiting to hear back.
A spokesperson with MLGW says, “We expect our employee to make a full recovery. This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder that homeowners are to maintain control of their pets while MLGW is conducting service at a customer’s property.”
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