PIERSON -- A Volusia County Sheriff's deputy responding to a disturbance call in Pierson Friday afternoon shot and killed a large dog that lunged at him in an aggressive manner, an agency spokesman said.
Deputies were dispatched to 899 N. U.S. Highway 17 after receiving a call at 12:16 p.m. about a disturbance at the residence involving a drunk man with a metal pole. Five minutes after the call came in, Deputy Charles Hillyard was the first to arrive at the scene.
"As soon as Hillyard got there, he encountered a large dog running towards him from the house," Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said. "The deputy asked a man walking behind the dog if the animal bites, but before the man could reply, the dog went into a full sprint with its mouth open and lunged at the deputy. Hillyard unholstered his department-issued handgun to defend himself against the imminent attack and fired twice, killing the dog."
According to witnesses, the intoxicated man stays on the property in a tent, but has been told to stay away when he's been drinking, Davidson said Deputies investigated and then closed the complaint, concluding that no crime had been committed.
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