UPDATE: Dogs Located in Mount Vernon Dog Bite Investigation

Mount Vernon, WA –  According to a press release from Lieutenant Greg Booth with the Mount Vernon Police Department, on January 13th, 2017 around 3:00 p.m., Mount Vernon Police Officers and Child Protective Services responded to a residence in the 1300 block of Harrison Street in Mount Vernon, to investigate a reported dog bite incident that occurred the previous day.   Child Protective services staff had information that a 7-year old Juvenile male was being treated at Skagit Valley Hospital, and was scheduled to be transferred to Children’s Hospital in Seattle to treat extensive wounds to his face and head, resulting from several dogs at the residence.

Officers contacted the resident on Harrison Street, a 32-year old adult female, who was determined to be the primary owner of the dogs in question. Additional investigation revealed “three” Pit Bull Terriers were involved in the incident. Officers searched the residence, but were unable to locate the dogs.  The owner advised Mount Vernon Police Officers that she did not know where they were or who had the dogs.

On January 17th, 2017, the father of the child, Carlos Chavez, contacted several news agencies in an attempt to locate the missing dogs. Mr. Chavez told SkagitBreaking.com  his 7-year old son, Reilly of Mount Vernon  had been attacked at a home in Mount Vernon by three Pit Bull type dogs on the previous Thursday and had over 70 stitches in his face and 8 staples in his head.   He asked SkagitBreaking.com  to help him find the dogs and get justice for his son as he believed the dogs  were intentionally being hidden.    We reached out to the Mount Vernon Police Department, who told us they were in the middle of an active investigation on the incident and would provide further information when it became available.

 

Reilly’s mom, Briana Gerber  contacted SkagitBreaking.com and when asked if she had been assisting the homeowner with hiding the dogs from the police as she had been accused of, she said “I am in NO way what so ever helping hide those dogs. My only focus has been my son and his recovery.”

When asked if she had public comment on the incident she said ” I don’t know what happened at that house or what caused the dogs to do this. If I ever thought my child would be harmed by them they would never have been around them. I would never put my child in harm’s way or try to protect what ever or who ever hurt my child. I haven’t left my son’s side in the last 6 days and I’m not leaving his side now. I want those dogs found but first and foremost my only focus in my child’s healing, mentally, emotionally and physically.  My son is my only focus at this point and if that makes me a bad parent, so be it.”

Today, January 18th, 2017, after  additional investigation, Lieutenant Greg Booth wrote in his press release that Mount Vernon Police Detectives located the three involved dogs at a residence in the 200 block of North Central Avenue in Sedro-Woolley.

The dogs were seized and are currently being held in quarantine. The Mount Vernon Animal Control Officer is reviewing the case for possible “dangerous dog” declarations for each involved dog.

You can review the Mount Vernon Municipal Code Title 6 “Animals” for information related to this process by clicking here.

Detectives are continuing to review the case for additional criminal charges.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Police Dispatch at (360) 428-3211 or the Mount Vernon Police Department at (360) 336-6271.  Reference case number 17-M00723.