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Pinellas deputy lures pit bulls into cruiser with dog treats

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TBO.com

Published: September 28, 2009

Updated: 09/28/2009 12:51 pm

A Pinellas County deputy defused a potentially dangerous situation involving two marauding pit bulls by luring them into his squad car with dog treats, the sheriff's office said this morning.

Deputy Vance Nussbaum, 45, was dispatched to a report in Belleair Beach last week that the two canines had charged a 65-year-old woman as she was running into her home away from them, clutching her Doberman pincher puppy, the sheriff's office said.

Nussbaum, an eight-year veteran, found the pit bulls and called out to them, the sheriff's office said. The animals came to him but wouldn't go into his squad car. That's when he tossed the dog biscuits in back and, after the pit bulls went inside, drove them to Pinellas County Animal Services, where they are being held.

The owner of the pit bulls has been identified as Timothy Frank, 20, of 405 Maxwell Place, Indian Rocks. He was not charged in the incident but was cited in April, accused of allowing his dogs to run loose.

Carolyn Sofer told investigators she was in her yard at 117 Fifth St. with her 4-month-old puppy when she saw the pit bulls creep toward them, in staggered crouch positions, about 9 a.m. one day last week, the sheriff's office said.

She said she snatched up her puppy and ran into the garage as the pit bulls started running toward her, the sheriff's office said. Sofer quickly pushed the button to close her garage.

From inside her home, Sofer called 911 and watched as the pit bulls circled her home looking for a way in. Sofer told the deputy that one of the dogs then jumped into her pool and then the animals left.

Nussbaum arrived and, after checking on Sofer's well-being, began searching the area for the pit bulls, the sheriff's office said. Moments later, Nussbaum spotted the animals and lured them into his squad car.

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