Whittier man mauled by pit bull during failed robbery; father and son arrested
WHITTIER -- A Whittier man and his teenage son were behind bars Sunday on suspicion of badly beating another man during a robbery attempt and sicking their pit bull on him, officials said.
The victim had the tips of both ears bitten off by the dog in the attack, in addition to other injuries, Whittier police Lt. Carlos Solorza said.
Richard Aragon Sr., 51, and his 16-year-old son were booked on suspicion of attempted robbery and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with Saturday's 9:15 p.m. incident in the 8900 block of Painter Avenue, the lieutenant said.
The teenage suspect approached the victim, a 43-year-old Whittier man, and demanded his wallet, Solorza said. When the man refused, he was attacked.
Aragon then joined in the fray, releasing his pit bull on the victim, police said in a written statement.
"When we got their, he was bleeding profusely," he said. "He had been punched and kicked in the head by the men and ... the tips of both ears were bitten off my the dog."
The victim also suffered a gash to his head requiring stitches and had visible boot marks on his head, police added.
The injured man was taken to an Orange County trauma center for treatment, where he was listed in stable condition.
Officers found Aragon and his son, along with their pit bull, inside a nearby apartment complex and arrested them in connection with the violent robbery attempt, Solorza said.
"Bloody boots were also found in one of the assailant's apartments," according to the statement.
The third man possibly involved in the attack was not found, authorities said. Animal control officials quarantined the dog pending the investigation.
According to sheriff's booking records, Aragon was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail at the Whittier Police Department's Jail. Information on his initial court date was not available, however criminal suspects held in custody are generally brought before a judge within two working days of arrest.
The 16-year-old suspect was taken to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey.
As officers were investigating the incident, another teenage boy was being detained and questioned by police when he "became upset and swung at one of the officers," according to the police statement.
After a struggle that ended with the juvenile being shocked with a Taser, he was arrested on suspicion of assault on a police officer, officials said. He was not tied to the initial failed robbery and attack.
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
This article appears to have a lot of inaccurate information based on the eye-witnesses at the apartment complex. Why doesn't someone come and talk to the witnesses to find out what really happened? Also, information has been witnessed that the alleged victim was the initiator to the altercation. The minor's son was the one assaulted by the "victim" prior to the fight. Also, the minor's father did not go out to be a part of any illegal activity. He went out to walk his dog. Once he seen the fight between his son and the "victim" he went to go and intervene to stop the assault on his son. The lab-mix was not brought out to attack anyone (neighbors can verify the dog's disposition)he was confronted with a bad situation and reacted in response to his owners' personal safety (as would any other loving and scared pet dog). In addition to the information the Whittier police officer gave to the paper, why wasn't the arresting circumstances mentioned? According to numerous eye-witnesses in the apartment complex, there was excessive force placed on the minors even after they were subdued in handcuffs. Why?
Listen chola wife of the accused.
Why do you think your witnesses have more credence than the newspapers? "the white man" is just harassing all you raiders fans right?
Why was his bail set at only $30,000? It should be more like $300,000. Allowing your family dog to attack a neighbor, leaving him bloody, emotionally and physically scared for life; AND teaching your son that's its acceptable to rob, verbally and physically attack others, for his own amusement and financial gain. BOTH ATTACKS HAVE INTENT WRITTEN ALL OVER IT!!
This is all fakee, they gave WRONG information. I know the son and i know the father and the dog to be real with you. The father is a inocent man, hes loving and caring, and he was NOT going out their to do anything wrong it was just to simply walk his dog. And like ANY father, if you saw your song being beaten up by an OLDER man you would go and help your son. its normal. And i have pitbullls, if his owners were being beaten up, my dogs would help. And the dog was NOT even a pitbull, the dog is so loving and wouldnt do anything to harm anyone. This is all wrong information and its pathetic that someone would even post wrong and stupid information. The "victum" is the one that should be in jail and hes not so thats the sad part, And also if the "victum" wasnt drunk everyday all day than this WHOLE problem would be avoided!, so take all this and put the REAL information into your story. And also, the police beaten the young man after he was in cand cuffs, and noot trying to do anything. So not only is the "victum" messed up but so are the police. This case is all wrong, the people that are in jail are the LOVING CARING NICE SWEET and HONEST and the ones that are out of jail are the oness that should bee in jail! this is sad. just knoww that this information is WRONG.
This is all fakee, they gave WRONG information. I know the son and i know the father and the dog to be real with you. The father is a inocent man, hes loving and caring, and he was NOT going out their to do anything wrong it was just to simply walk his dog. And like ANY father, if you saw your song being beaten up by an OLDER man you would go and help your son. its normal. And i have pitbullls, if his owners were being beaten up, my dogs would help. And the dog was NOT even a pitbull, the dog is so loving and wouldnt do anything to harm anyone. This is all wrong information and its pathetic that someone would even post wrong and stupid information. The "victum" is the one that should be in jail and hes not so thats the sad part, And also if the "victum" wasnt drunk everyday all day than this WHOLE problem would be avoided!, so take all this and put the REAL information into your story. And also, the police beaten the young man after he was in cand cuffs, and noot trying to do anything. So not only is the "victum" messed up but so are the police. This case is all wrong, the people that are in jail are the LOVING CARING NICE SWEET and HONEST and the ones that are out of jail are the oness that should bee in jail! this is sad. just knoww that this information is WRONG.
This is all fakee, they gave WRONG information. I know the son and i know the father and the dog to be real with you. The father is a inocent man, hes loving and caring, and he was NOT going out their to do anything wrong it was just to simply walk his dog. And like ANY father, if you saw your song being beaten up by an OLDER man you would go and help your son. its normal. And i have pitbullls, if his owners were being beaten up, my dogs would help. And the dog was NOT even a pitbull, the dog is so loving and wouldnt do anything to harm anyone. This is all wrong information and its pathetic that someone would even post wrong and stupid information. The "victum" is the one that should be in jail and hes not so thats the sad part, And also if the "victum" wasnt drunk everyday all day than this WHOLE problem would be avoided!, so take all this and put the REAL information into your story. And also, the police beaten the young man after he was in cand cuffs, and noot trying to do anything. So not only is the "victum" messed up but so are the police. This case is all wrong, the people that are in jail are the LOVING CARING NICE SWEET and HONEST and the ones that are out of jail are the oness that should bee in jail! this is sad. just knoww that this information is WRONG.
it's incredible to see how twisted things can get once they go public...people should remember that not everything they read...or see on t.v... is true. there is always another side to the story. the alleged "victim" is a known drinker among other things... how does anyone really know that what he is saying about the whole incident is true? does he have any alterior motives for making his accusations? there are witnesses too. but oh... that hasn't really been emphasized. by the way... this is in regard to the "chola wife" comment... the mother of the victim is a hard working woman. she is no chola or even close to being one. nor is she married to anyone. she has no history other than being a good and productive citizen. in defense of the dog... he has never attacked, been viscious, or harmed anyone before. unfortunately, for him, he was placed in a very precarious situation that was out of his control and responded to the situation in the same manner any other pet would... all of you dog owners out there know this too. also, look into a real"viscious pitbull attack"... for one, Rocky doesn't look close to being that type of dog... and two, pitbull are know for locking and shredding... their bites would leave someone under long term care. come on everyone! let's be smart about this. ALL of the facts should be reviewed and considered before any opinion and especially judgement is made. just think about it.