Westbrook police officers used Tasers early Saturday morning to avoid a pit bull attack – and to subdue the man who ordered the dog to charge police.
The confrontation between the officers and Christopher “CJ” Dunaway occurred after police received a report of a fight on River and North streets at 12:15 Saturday morning. Before police arrived at the scene, some of those involved in the fight fled in a car, which, according to witnesses, nearly struck a pedestrian as it sped off.
According to police, when Officer Jeff Stackpole located the vehicle on Brown Street, the passengers got out of the car and fled on foot. Stackpole and Officer Timothy Morrell chased and apprehended Kenneth “JD” Durgin, who was identified as being involved in the fight, and charged him with disorderly conduct, assault and terrorizing.
Meanwhile, police said, Sgt. Anthony Ciampi found Dunaway, also identified by witnesses as being involved in the fight, outside his River Street home. Police said Dunaway was swearing, threatening officers and bystanders and refusing to calm down.
As officers tried to arrest Dunaway, he retreated into his apartment, and the officers pursued him inside. Continuing to refuse to surrender, police said Dunaway ordered his pit bull to attack the officers, and the dog charged.
At the same time, Ciampi and Stackpole deployed their Tasers, striking both Dunaway and the dog. They charged Dunaway with disorderly conduct, criminal threatening and refusing to submit to arrest. Police said that dog was immobilized and later ran off.
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