Owner of dogs who mauled elderly Texas man to death has been arrested

Samuel Cartwright, a 47-year-old-Texas man is facing felony charges after police said all seven of his dogs mauled a 71-year-old man to death in an unprovoked attack.

The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s office charged Cartwright with attack by dog resulting in death.

The incident occurred on July 18, when Cartwright’s seven pit bull mixed dogs allegedly attacked and killed 71-year-old Freddy Garcia during a store run in Fresno, Texas. According to Sheriff Eric Fagan of Fort Bend County during a press conference on Tuesday, emergency personnel airlifted Garcia to Memorial Herman-Texas Medical Center in Houston where he was pronounced dead.

Four of the seven dogs were initially captured by the police the day after the incident and by Friday, all seven dogs had been captured by the sheriff’s deputies and animal control, police said.

Cartwright is currently being held in the Fort Bend County jail on a $100,000 bond, police said.

During Tuesday’s press conference, District Attorney Brian Middleton said that Garcia needlessly lost his life in the “tragic” incident and warned dog owners to control their pets. 

“If you have a dangerous dog, it is your responsibility to keep that dog secure to keep the members of our community safe,” he said. “If you fail to do that, you will be held accountable.”