Pit bulls escape from building, terrorize Brewer neighborhood

BREWER – Three pit bulls got loose Friday morning from a building on Wilson Street and reportedly terrorized the neighborhood before they were caught, though no one was injured, according to police.

According to Cpl. Richard Smith, Brewer police were called to a vacant brick building across from Brooks Pharmacy on Wilson Street just before 11 a.m. Friday, where neighbors had reported that three pit bulls had escaped and were running loose in the area.

The dogs, owned by Brian True, 39, of Eddington, were kept in the building during the day, while True worked in town.

“Apparently [True] is renovating the building, but is working somewhere else currently, and this building is closer to where he was,” Smith said Sunday evening. “He would bring them there and drop them off and come by to check on them and bring them food and water.”

Smith said that several people had been attacked by the dogs, and that one of the animals was vicious and had bitten a person, although the individual was wearing heavy clothing and the bite did not break the skin.

After the initial report, Smith, along with Officer Amy Nickerson and Sgt. Arden Jones, was unable to locate the animals.

“We couldn’t get near them, and we lost them,” said Smith. “We got another call that they’d returned, and we were able to corner them. It was definitely a challenge to get them under control.”

Smith said he thought that the front door did not latch when True left the building that morning, and when one of the dogs jumped up onto the door, it was pushed open.

Once police were able to locate True, he was issued summonses for dog at large and for keeping a dangerous dog. Smith said he did not believe further action would be taken.

“They aren’t being quarantined, since there was no actual injury,” said Smith.