A 65-year-old man was attacked and injured Sunday by a pit bull that was later euthanized, La Salle police said in a Monday news release.
La Salle Police and Fire departments were alerted at 1:53 p.m. Sunday to the 900 block of Chartres Street. There, officers learned a 65-year-old man was riding a bicycle when he was attacked by an American pit bull terrier named Megatron.
“Officers investigated the attack and learned that Megatron’s owner, Refugio Martinez, age 31, was attempting to locate another one of his dogs that was running loose, while Megatron was being held by him on a leash,” according to the release. “Martinez was unable to control Megatron as the 65-year-old male passed on the bicycle and Megatron bit the man’s lower left leg.”
The bite victim later was transported to St. Margaret’s Health-Peru for treatment of his bite wound. Martinez was cited for allowing a dog to run at large.
“Upon further investigation it was learned this was the third time in the past year that Megatron had attacked a person,” according to the release. “La Salle police contacted La Salle County Animal Control and Megatron was deemed a dangerous dog by Animal Control.”
On Monday, Martinez turned Megatron over to La Salle County Animal Control, and the animal was ultimately euthanized.
A message left for Martinez via social media was not immediately returned.