Elgin police kill pit bull as it attacked neighbor’s dog

• Reprints

Updated: March 23, 2012 8:15AM

ELGIN — Elgin police said Monday that they killed a pit bull Sunday night after the dog allegedly attacked a neighbor’s dog.

Police said the pit bull entered the backyard of a home in the 300 block of Fulton Street at about 6:30 p.m. and attacked another pit bull that was in its own backyard. The second dog’s owner called police for help and, upon arrival, officers located both dogs’ owners.

Police said the attacking dog’s owner attempted to separate the pit bulls, which were engaged in an aggressive fight, and was bitten in the process. Further attempts to separate the dogs were unsuccessful, police said. The attacking dog’s owner then asked officers to shoot the dog because it was out of control, police said.

To ensure the safety of the neighborhood, the dog owners and the officers, police said, the attacking dog was shot at the scene and killed instantly. The surviving dog was taken to an animal hospital to be treated for wounds suffered in the attack. Police Lt. Glenn Theriault said animal control officers are still investigating this case and that charges are pending.

Theriault said the same pit bull owner, 19-year-old Christian Diaz of the 300 block of South Weston Avenue, was found liable on seven previous citations in the past two months. This particular dog also was found to be liable for dangerous behavior at an administrative hearing held Feb. 14, police said.