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Bulldog In Brandon Area Makes 2nd Attack On A Child

Tribune photo by LAURA FRAZIER

Edwin Martinez stands with his son, Jonathan, 10, after the boy's arm was bitten by a bulldog.

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By LAURA FRAZIER | The Tampa Tribune
and JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 17, 2009

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• When Animals Attack

Lisa Johnson

BRANDON - When the American bulldog Prince Charming attacked Rocky Tolison's stepson four years ago, the injuries were so severe that the boy needed 128 sutures, Tolison said.

On Saturday, investigators say, the bulldog attacked a different boy. The child needed three stitches below his right elbow.

Prince Charming wasn't provoked by a child in either incident, Hillsborough County Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said. Prince Charming is back at animal services, which once again wants the animal permanently removed from the owner's care. Prince Charming, which is 5, might ultimately be euthanized, Ryan said.

"You cannot put a dog like this out in the community again," she said.

The dog's owner, Lisa Johnson, was arrested Monday night. She was charged with two misdemeanors, culpable negligence and reckless disregard of a dog's propensity to bite.

Johnson, 39, of 3427 Yale Circle in the Brandon area, has been released from jail on $500 bail. A person at her home today declined to comment.

When Prince Charming attacked 10-year-old Jonathan Martinez on Saturday evening, the fourth-grader at Symmes Elementary was riding his bicycle in front of his house. His father said he never saw a dog run so fast.

"The dog was running and it just attacked me on my arm," Jonathan Martinez said. "Then it almost tried to charge me again, and I was gonna hit it with my helmet, but I got mad and just ran home."

Johnson came to the boy's house with her daughter, crying, and told the family that she was sorry and that it was the first time something like this had happened, said Jonathan's father, Edwin.

Edwin Martinez later learned about the 2004 attack.

"I had to call animal control, or it was going to be on my conscience if that dog came out and killed a kid," he said.

The attack four years ago began when Tolison's stepson, Richard Neal, came to Johnson's home to watch a movie with her daughter. Richard, who was about 10 at the time, walked in the door and the dog went right for him, his stepfather said.

"The dog attacked my son and ripped his face open," Tolison said. "The muscles in his cheeks were hanging out of his face. … I wouldn't let him look in any mirrors. I wouldn't let him see how bad his face was."

Tolison said his stepson, now 14, will be scarred for life as a result of the attack.

In 2005, a hearing master declined a request to have Prince Charming taken away from Johnson, saying the attack was a first-time occurrence.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691. Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523.

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