Maple Heights police officer fatally shoots 2 dogs to save woman from mauling

Maple Heights police say an officer fatally shot two dogs after the animals turned on and attacked a 62-year-old woman during a walk on Sunday afternoon.

Police responded to 5207 Henry Street just before 2 p.m. and found the woman in the midst of being attacked by the two large dogs. One of the officers pulled his department-issued sidearm gun and fired multiple rounds, striking both dogs.

"Both dogs succumbed to their injuries," police said in a press release.

Officers performed "life-saving emergency first aid" on the woman until Maple Heights Fire Department paramedics transported her to a Cleveland hospital. On Monday, police identified the woman as Rhonda Johnson and said she was in stable condition after undergoing surgery to repair "her badly injured right arm." Officials added that Johnson sustained injuries to her left arm, left leg, right leg and chest.

According to the Maple Heights Police Department, witnesses told police that Johnson was walking the dogs when they began attacking her. It is not clear what caused them to attack.

According to Maple Heights police, the dogs that attacked Johnson belonged to her son, however neighbors told investigators that Johnson was the primary caregiver of the dogs and walked them several times a day.

Maple Heights police said more information would be shared "when necessary." Anyone with information is asked to call the department's Detective Bureau at 216-587-9624.


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