A canine that mauled a next-door neighbor at a Northeast Side trailer park, inflicting accidents so extreme that the person’s left forearm needed to be amputated, shall be euthanized, a San Antonio Municipal Court choose has dominated.
Judge Lisa Gonzales mentioned it was a “very black-and-white” case as a result of the canine was outdoors its proprietor’s fenced yard when it inflicted “critically bodily damage” on the sufferer.
The male American Staffordshire terrier, named Ghost, shall be euthanized by the town’s Animal Care Services company.
Gonzales dominated late Thursday afternoon after listening to testimony from a number of witnesses, together with an ACS investigator who mentioned she noticed items of human flesh on the bottom — and “numerous blood” — on the scene of the assault within the 9500 block of Heidelberg Street, simply north of Windcrest.
The canine attacked Paul Anthony Striegl Jr., 47, on Sept. 5, inflicting extreme accidents to the arms and abdomen. Striegl was rushed to Brooke Army Medical Center, the place medical doctors amputated his left forearm as much as the elbow. He stays hospitalized.
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The animal’s proprietor, Gregory Leon Palmer, 54, was at work on the time of the assault. He cried after listening to the choose’s resolution and declined to remark whereas leaving the courtroom.
Ghost and a feminine American Staffordshire terrier, named Venus, had been inside Palmer’s home, however somebody allow them to out. Investigators decided Venus didn’t take part within the assault.
The ACS investigator, Meryem Martinez, testified Thursday that she went to the trailer park after the assault and noticed two items of flesh in Striegl’s yard. One giant piece seemed to be belly pores and skin and was lined by a material, she mentioned.
She mentioned that when she went to BAMC to interview Striegl, he advised her he’d been taking part in with the dogs in his personal yard, “like he all the time does.”
Martinez mentioned that by Striegl’s account, Ghost and Venus slipped below the fence between the yards. Venus approached Striegl to be petted, and Ghost nipped at her.
Striegl advised Ghost “to knock it off,” and that is when the male canine attacked, Martinez testified.
In an audio recording of the interview, which was performed within the courtroom, Striegl may very well be heard telling Martinez: “I used to be by the fence taking part in with the dogs. He acquired jealous. He acquired mad. He nipped at her.”
Striegl went on to say: “I hope he doesn’t get in trouble. It was just a freak accident.”
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Martinez, below questioning by lawyer Barrett McKinney, who represented Animal Care Services, testified that Striegl has undergone a number of surgical procedures at BAMC and suffered a stroke.
Palmer appeared on the listening to with out an lawyer and cross-examined Martinez.
He requested the investigator whether or not Striegel admitted to her that, earlier than the assault, he had reached over the fence into Palmer’s yard to the touch the dogs.
“No,” Martinez replied.
Palmer additionally requested whether or not Striegl’s medical information gave any indication he was below the affect that day.
“I don’t understand how that may be related to this case,” Martinez mentioned, including that Striegl was in his personal yard when Ghost attacked.
ACS has issued three felony citations in opposition to Palmer — two as a result of his dogs left their property whereas freed from restraint, and the third as a result of Ghost bit somebody. Those citations would be the topic of a separate court docket listening to at a later date.
Palmer was allowed to reclaim Venus after ACS sterilized the animal.
Ghost stays within the company’s custody. The choose mentioned Palmer shall be allowed to gather the animal’s cremated stays after it’s euthanized.
The assault stays below investigation by the San Antonio Police Department’s murder division. That investigation may lead to further prices in opposition to Palmer.
