Talk about a case of being in the right place at the right time. On Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, a sheriff’s deputy happened upon six dogs attacking a woman in Oak Park. He stopped the attack, possibly saving the victim’s life, and the woman was hospitalized as a result of her injuries.
According to an incident report obtained from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Charles Cross was patrolling on First Avenue South near Gum Street in Oak Park when “he noticed a group of dogs which appeared to be attacking something in the roadway.” As Cross got closer, he saw that what the dogs was attacking was a person, later identified as Michele Brabon Fallon, 35, of Douglas. Cross stopped his vehicle and yelled at the dogs, all of which ran away. He called EMS and Fallon was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Four other deputies responded. The officers were able to find the dogs’ owners. Four of the dogs belonged to Jennifer Burkett, 39, of Douglas. Melissa Brinson owned one dog and Emilia Banda, 48, of Douglas, owned another dog. According to the report, only Banda had a fenced yard; her dog, however, had escaped the yard. Neighbors stated that despite the fence, Banda’s dog was often out.
Animal Control responded and captured all six dogs. The owners were given a $100 citation for each dog for violating the county’s leash law.
Fallon suffered serious injuries as a result of the attack. After being treated in the CRMC emergency room, she was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit where she was placed in a medically induced coma due to pain from the dog bites. She is expected to recover.