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Bulldog Bites Another Child

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By JOSH POLTILOVE and LAURA FRAZIER

jpoltilove@tampatrib.com lfrazier@tampatrib.com

Published: February 18, 2009

Updated: 02/18/2009 12:34 am

BRANDON - When the American bulldog Prince Charming attacked Rocky Tolison's stepson about four years ago, 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 in either incident, Hillsborough County Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said. The dog is back at Animal Services, which once again wants it permanently removed from the owner's care.

The 5-year-old dog ultimately might 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 culpable negligence and reckless disregard of a dog's propensity to bite, both misdemeanors.

Johnson, 39, of 3427 Yale Circle in the Brandon area, posted $500 bail and left jail. Someone at her home Tuesday declined to comment.

When Prince Charming attacked 10-year-old Jonathan Martinez on Saturday evening, the Symmes Elementary School fourth-grader was riding his bicycle in front of his house, his dad said.

"The dog was running, and it just attacked me on my arm," Jonathan said. "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 went to the boy's house with her daughter, crying, and told the family she was sorry and that it was the first time something like that had happened, said Jonathan's father, Edwin Martinez.

Edwin Martinez later learned about what happened in 2004. "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, went to Johnson's home to watch a movie with her daughter. Richard, who was about 10 at the time, entered the house and the dog went for him, his stepdad said.

"The dog attacked my son and ripped his face open," Tolison said. "The muscles in his cheeks were hanging out of his face." Tolison said his stepson, now 14, is scarred for life.

In 2005, a hearing master declined a request to have Prince Charming taken from Johnson, saying it 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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