INDIANAPOLIS—
Shawn Middleton, 25, faces four misdemeanor counts including dog bite resulting in serious bodily injury and harboring a non-immunized dog.Middleton's dogs attacked a 23 year old Northside man in early March. One of the dogs had been adopted out by the Humane Society of Indianapolis less than two months before.
According to court documents the Pit Bull that was shot and killed by police was named Yoda and adopted out to Middleton on January 8th. The court documents go on to say that Yoda had shown signs of aggressive behavior while in the care of the Humane Society of Indianapolis.
Humane Society CEO John Aleshire told FOX59 News they had the dog more than six weeks and the only aggressive behavior came immediately following major surgery.
"The dog had multiple contacts with staff and volunteers day after day after day and nothing whatsoever was of a concern to us," said Aleshire.
City County Councilman Mike Speedy believes the dog should have never been adopted out and he says the attack is a wake-up call that Indianapolis needs tighter Pit Bull ordinances.
Speedy spent much of 2009 trying to pass new laws, but his fellow councilors tabled the issue.
"We're very reactionary. We don't have a comprehensive, targeted solution and the maulings will continue and I fear there will be a fatality before it's all over," said Speedy.
