Manhunt flushes suspect, pit bull shot

[ Originally published on: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 ]

SHUTESBURY -- An Amherst man who ran from police during a traffic stop triggered a manhunt that ended with the shooting of a pit bull and the man's arrest.

Joseph C. Russel, 19, of 161 Pine St., Amherst, was wanted for violation of probation.

The incident began around 10 p.m. Saturday with a traffic stop in front of the town hall on Cooleyville Road, according to Shutesbury Police Chief Thomas E. Harding.

Russel jumped out of the car and took off, Harding said. A pit bull took off with him, the chief said.

The officer involved in the stop caught up with Russel after about 200 yards and was about to arrest him when the dog attacked and grabbed the officer by the left arm, the chief said.

To get the dog to release, the officer, whom Harding would not name, used pepper spray.

''The dog released his hold, but as so often happens when you use OC spray in close quarters, the officer got some in his face, too,'' Harding said.

Russel used the opportunity to run off into the woods with the dog.

According to police, the officer called for assistance and help poured into the area from the state police and surrounding towns.

''There were officers from Erving, Montague, Leverett, Sunderland, New Salem, three members of the Environmental Police and six to eight troopers from the state police, including a dog handler and his K-9,'' the chief said.

Amherst Ambulance treated the officer for exposure to pepper spray and checked his arm, which was not hurt, according to Harding.

The chief said that police set up a cordon to surround Russel and then sent the state police dog handler in to track him.

Eventually, police said, Russel surrendered on Montague Road.

''When he came out of the woods they told him to restrain the pit bull, but he was either unwilling, or unable to do so. As it had already bitten an officer, they shot and killed the animal,'' the chief said.

According to Shutesbury Police, Russel had warrants out of the Eastern Hampshire District Court for a variety of motor vehicle violations and was wanted on a violation of probation.

In the Saturday incident, Russel has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a pit bull), resisting arrest, trespassing and disturbing the peace.

Harding also mentioned that the dog did not belong to Russel, but to a friend.

You can reach George Claxton at: gclaxton@recorder.com or (413) 772-0261 Ext. 279

 

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