A recent report has disclosed that a SWAT team and K-9 officers summoned to handle a group of pit bulls that lethally attacked a man had to retreat due to the dogs’ extreme aggression.
The victim, 46-year-old Chris Culbertson, succumbed to his injuries following a brutal 23-minute mauling last November in Kansas City, Missouri.
He was seen on security footage riding his bike when he was approached by two dogs who started circling him.
Culbertson fell to the ground and more dogs broke through a fence, taking hold of his arms, legs, feet and face with their teeth.
According to new information obtained by The Kansas City Star, even with the involvement of a SWAT team, a K-9 unit, and staff from a nearby animal shelter, authorities struggled to control the dogs after the tragic event.
Even though officers have the power to destroy dangerous dogs that pose a threat to the public, officers left the animals inside the fenced yard of their owner.
The next day officers returned to find that the animals had disappeared. A patrol for the dogs didn’t start until four days later, the document say.
In April John Thibeaux Sr. and his son John Thibeaux Jr. were charged with one count of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and second-degree assault.
Chris Culbertson, 46, died from his injuries after he was gruesomely mauled for 23 minutes last November in Kansas City
Culbertson fell to the ground and more dogs broke through a fence, taking hold of his arms, legs, feet and face with their teeth
Animal shelter KC Pet Project, who appeared at the address alongside the SWAT and K-9 teams, released documents to the outlet about the incident.
In them, they said that officers used horns, sirens and lights to spook the animals away from Culbertson.
A nearby neighbor, identified in the report as Holly Lane, ran to Culbertson’s aid with a golf club but was also attacked.
Eventually the animals fled back into the yard via holes in the fencing large enough for them go under.
After Culbertson and Lane were rushed to hospital, an animal service officer was told by cops at the scene that Thibeaux Sr arrived with a key to the padlocked enclosure.
In a probable cause statement seen by the outlet, it said he arrived on the scene shortly after the first attempt to capture the dogs, telling officers he lived there.
Officials say that after being informed of the attack he then recanted his original statement and said the dogs belonged to his son.
His son was then called to the address, but he then told officers that only one belonged to him, the rest were strays.
After 300 bites, 500 stiches and 100 lacerations, Culbertson went septic and died from his injuries
In April of this year John Thibeaux Sr., right, and his son John Thibeaux Jr., left, were charged with one count of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and second-degree assault
Officials moved in to seize the animals after a warrant was issued with the SWAT team and K-9 officers attempting to bring them under control.
An officer described how they managed to put one red pit bull in a waiting truck as the other animals tried to attack them through the fencing.
The document says: ‘Through another attempt to gain control of another Pitbull type canine, it and another Pitbull type canine forcibly grabbed my catchpole and ripped it out of my hands and into the yard.’
According to the report the SWAT team then used pepper spray on the animals which forced the animals away from the fence. They left with one dog, it said.
Kansas City code states that if officials deem an animal uncatchable officials can kill it by other reasonable means outside of euthanizing it humanely if it is a continued threat.
Due to the aggression of the animals, the officers left with plans to return and sedate the rest of them. The next morning the animals had all disappeared.
According to the report the SWAT team then used pepper spray on the animals which forced the animals away from the fence. The property is seen here
Detectives later said that Thibeaux Jr operated a dog breeding business, based on social media posts concerning puppies for sale
After 300 bites, 500 stiches and 100 lacerations, Culbertson went septic and died from his injuries.
Lane suffered bites to her leg, and a laceration to the back of her calf. Despite being bandaged up blood continued to pour from the wound and soak the gauze.
Lane told officers that two hours before they arrived on the scene the day after that she saw the owner park at the edge of the property before leaving.
She suspected that they had loaded up the animals and left before cops appeared on the scene again.
John Thibeaux Jr. met with officers at the property and gave them permission to inspect it for the dogs. They found two kennels in a back bedroom with nine puppies inside. No other dogs were found.
After patrols were put in place to find the loose pack, several dogs matching the description were found two miles from the property and appeared to have been abandoned. The report said that they were impounded and euthanized.
Detectives later said that Thibeaux Jr operated a dog breeding business, based on social media posts concerning puppies for sale.
In the last update from prosecutors, both men are in custody on a $100,000 bond each.
DailyMail.com has approached the Jackson County Prosecutor for an update on the case. It is unclear at this time if they have entered a plea.
