New information in Central Ave. dog attack investigation

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — There are new details emerging in the dog attack that claimed the life of a man two weeks ago at a house on Central Avenue and NEWS10 has learned new information about the investigation.

“The conditions were such that we believe charging them is warranted,” said Lieutenant Willie Black, Albany Police Department Special Operations Unit.

That is what the lieutenant said at a public safety meeting Tuesday evening when it came to possible charges in the dog attack that killed 59-year-old James Provost of Schenectady.

Flack says some of the dogs involved in the attack had been removed from the home once before during a drug bust. “So, they’re the same dogs. They came back. They at the time, they were licensed.”

Provost was killed after being attacked by several dogs two weeks ago. Lt. Flack told the Albany Common Council that this is becoming a growing trend. “This has become ingrained to have these dogs. Whether it’s for status, whether it’s for protection, whatever it be, and whoever has the biggest, baddest dog is the biggest baddest dude.” He says in order to make changes and keep the public safe, it’s going to take more than just Animal Control Officers. “Right now, if we have animal cruelty cases, they kind of have to wait for an officer to do the criminality side of all that. They can issue tickets under the known ordinances. They can do those type of things,” said Flack.

Also speaking up at the meeting were two Albany teenagers who tell NEWS10 Reporter, James De La Fuente they themselves just experienced a dog attack within the last 24 hours while walking their dogs at Lincoln Park. “Out of nowhere I turned around, and I saw a dog starting to run up to us. So, I shouted a warning because it’s not always uncommon to see unleashed dogs,” said Olivia Rose.

“My dog was attacked too. And I never heard my dog yelp the way he did when that thing grabbed onto his face,” said Etienne “William” Douzal.

He says they needed help to save their dogs from being killed. “These were grown men. We had to hold down this Pitbull for, I don’t know, 5 minutes and during that period of time, we ended up letting go and then getting back on it, swapping,” said Douzal.

Olivia’s mother, Laura, says it’ s not the breed, It’s the person who makes the dog problematic. “Not putting more laws and more restrictions on the community members but educating each of us and coming together as a community to make a difference.”

Keep with NEWS10 as we continue to follow this developing story.