Tarentum man faces multiple charges in connection with Halloween dog attacks

A Tarentum man is facing multiple charges for allegedly allowing his dogs to run loose and attack people on Halloween.

Brandon Jerome Baynes, 36, is charged with three counts each of several charges, including animal neglect, and most of which are summary offenses. One of the charges, recklessly endangering another person, is a misdemeanor.

Charges stem from an investigation Oct. 31 in which three people were brutally attacked by two pit bulls, resulting in hospitalizations and all three, with one victim needing stitches in his face.

Police responded to the 700 block of Ormond Street shortly before 6 p.m., which was the starting time for trick-or-treat in the borough, for reports of three dogs on the loose and two of them attacking people.

One victim, resident Michael Shutack, was transported to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh with lacerations and puncture wounds to his neck, cheek, chin, arms, hands, knees and heels.

A woman, Faith Valasek, was taken to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison with severe wounds to her forearms. A third victim, Sean Flinn, was also taken to AVH with injuries.

Witnesses said Flinn saw Shutack being attacked and intervened likely saving the man’s life.

Police identified Baynes and a woman as owners of the three dogs. They were tenants of a row house along South Ormond Street, which is known by some as lower Ormond. It’s at the end of a portion of East Seventh Avenue.

The woman has not been charged.

Police said they were informed by the landlord that the tenants were not home and had left their main front door open the night of the attack.

The dogs were able to force their way through the screen door, according to the criminal complaint. They ran into the street and proceed to seriously injure the victims, according Baynes’ arrest papers.

One of the dogs was seen on Fifth Avenue, across a set of railroad tracks, at Bridge Street. Officers chased it up the avenue, down Cherry Street and then onto the 700 block of Third Avenue where it became trapped between two houses.

The criminal complaint said two officers shot the dog multiple times, but it was still able to run between them and back toward the railroad tracks.

Officers followed the dog onto the 900 block of Lawton Street where police were “able to safely dispatch the animal,” the complaint read.

The second pit bull in the attacks returned to the row house on its own. Hoffman Kennels was able to secure the dog without incident.

The criminal complaint does not specify where the third dog was located, but neighbors have said it was a puppy.

Police said their investigation revealed the animals were kept in deplorable conditions, were not licensed in Allegheny County and the dogs hadn’t been given rabies shots as required by law.

In addition to facing recklessly endangering another person charges, Baynes is charged with failure to keep dogs confined, neglect of animals for failure to provide a clean and sanitary shelter; neglect of animals for failure to provide enough food or potable water for each animal; and not having them vaccinated or licensed.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18 at District Judge Carolyn S. Bengel’s courtroom.

Charges were filed Friday. Online court documents did not list an attorney for Baynes.

Borough children who were unable to trick-or-treat last month due to the incident were given a second chance at candy Nov. 2.