By Paul Tennant
The Eagle-Tribune
METHUEN, Mass. — A Middlesex County deputy sheriff shot and killed a pit bull whose owner directed it to attack him and fellow law enforcement officers Thursday night, police Chief Joseph Solomon said.
Two Dracut police officers, Detective Megan Pike and Patrolman Zac Coleman, along with Middlesex County deputies Todd Contemanche and Matthew Doherty went to 177 North Lowell St. to serve an arrest warrant on Lee Landry, 32.
The Middlesex County warrant charges him with rape.
As officers approached, another man in the residence, Christopher Ryan Driver, 29, ordered his pit bull to “get him,” police Chief Joseph Solomon said.
Contemanche, in fear for his safety, fired four rounds from his service weapon at the charging pit bull and killed it, Solomon said. Driver was arrested and charged with four counts of assault by dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, and obstructing justice.
He was transported to the Methuen police station where he was booked. He is being held on $10,000.00 cash bail. Driver’s criminal record includes 29 adult entries, with four separate assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges, according to Solomon.
Landry’s record has 71 adult entries, including rape, incest, kidnapping and many other felonies, the chief said. Landry was arrested on the warrant and taken to the Dracut police station for booking.
Due to the shooting, the scene was temporarily secured and processed by Methuen detectives and officers. The incident remains under investigation, Solomon said.
Copyright 2014 The Eagle-Tribune