Breaking news: Maryville animal control officer injured in pit bull attack

By Mark Boxley
of The Daily Times Staff

A 44-year-old Blount County woman is in jail today on a charge of reckless endangerment after her two pit bulls reportedly attacked a Maryville Police Department animal control officer.

According to information from the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Deborah Kay Dyer, 44, Old Whites Mill Road, was arrested by deputies after MPD Animal Control Officer Ken Crowder was mauled when he went to her residence to pick up the two dogs.

Blount County Sheriff James Berrong said the Maryville officer was called in for mutual aid due to the violent nature and history of the two animals.

Information was not immediately available on the nature of the attack beyond the report that Crowder was at the home to remove the dogs.

He was taken by Rural/Metro Ambulance Service to Blount Memorial Hospital. Crowder’s condition was not available from BMH because he was still being treated in the emergency room.

Dyer was being held in lieu of a $5,000 bond pending a future court appearance.
Berrong said he had contacted the Maryville Police Department — which is currently holding the two pit bulls — with a request for the dogs to be destroyed. The animals should be euthanized by the end of the day, he said.

More information will be available as it develops, and in Friday's edition of The Daily Times.