Cops quiz dog owner

OFFICERS of the West End Police Station have questioned Earl Banfield, the owner of Rottweiler “Sampson,” who severely bit nine-year-old Rishie Jaggernauth about the body last Saturday night.

A lab technician with Ferreira’s Optical, Banfield, 35, of Gopaul Avenue, Diego Martin, yesterday confirmed that he was questioned by the police on Sunday night. Rishie, Second Standard pupil of Diego Martin Boys RC, was bitten on the head, hand and shoulders when he went to visit friends a short distance from his home. The child received 15 stitches to the right side of his head, three to his right ear, one to his right index finger and two bites on the shoulder. But Banfield, a father of three, sought to defend his dog, saying “Sampson” does not attack anyone unless harrassed. This, he said, is the reason why the dog is never tied.

Banfield charged that little Rishie is one of several people that harrasses his four-year-old dog.  Nonetheless, he said, the incident was not a nice one and that he was extremely sorry for what had transpired. He said he has so far given $360 to Rishie’s mother, Rebecca Jaggernauth, in a bid to settle medical and transportation expenses. However, Rebecca said that the money given is not enough because she was advised by doctors at the Mount Hope Hospital that her son should have a CAT Scan. The CAT Scan, she said, costs in excess of $1,000. Rebecca said when she told Banfield about the CAT Scan, she was told that it was not needed, and that he (Banfield) would take Rishie to his (Banfield’s) physician to get a second opinion. Rebecca also said that Banfield told her that he was “just as poor” as she was. Banfield confirmed all this. “My son could have died and no one came to his rescue,” Rebecca said, pointing out that she does not want any “drastic action,” just full compensation. Police sources, meanwhile, said they are continuing to investigate the matter.