A Bellefontaine woman is facing charges after police say her dog bit a child during a baseball game Thursday evening at Lewis Ratleff Park.
According to the Bellefontaine Police Department, officers were dispatched to the park shortly before 7:30 p.m. for a report of a juvenile bitten by a dog.
Bellefontaine EMS arrived on scene and began treating the child.
While responding, officers warned nearby residents in the 100 block of South Springhill Street to bring children indoors because an aggressive dog was reportedly loose in the area.
Witnesses told officers the dog belonged to a resident in the 1100 block of West Columbus Avenue.
Police later made contact with 25-year-old Abigail Price behind a residence on West Columbus Avenue.
Price confirmed the brown pitbull, named Simba, belonged to her.
She reportedly told officers the dog was not aggressive and had never bitten anyone before.
Investigators determined the child had been playing in a baseball game on Field 4 at Lewis Ratleff Park when the dog ran onto the field.
Witnesses said the child chased a ball into the outfield when the pitbull approached and bit the child on the left bicep before adults nearby chased the dog away.
The child, identified in a statement from the Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District as Timo Huffman, was initially taken to Mary Rutan Hospital before later being treated at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
According to Recreation District Superintendent Rick Reed, Timo avoided surgery and was treated with stitches before returning home to recover.
In a social media statement, Reed said Timo remained in high spirits and was eager to return to baseball soon.
Reed also thanked several community members who responded quickly to help during the incident, along with the Bellefontaine Police and Fire Departments.
Police said Price later told officers someone accidentally left a door open, allowing the dog to escape.
She also stated the dog originally belonged to her ex-boyfriend and that she did not have tags or documentation for the animal.
Price was issued a criminal summons for Dogs at Large/Dangerous Dog under Ohio law and is scheduled to appear in Bellefontaine Municipal Court next week.
Police say the dog has since been secured.
Officers also completed a dangerous dog designation form.
Under Ohio’s newly enacted Avery’s Law, the dog will now be required to register as a dangerous dog.
