Police were called to Hardale Grove or Hardale Drive in Dormanstown, Redcar, shortly after 1:30pm on April 9 following concerns for a child, according to Cleveland Police. Upon arriving at the property, the child had sadly died, and the child is believed to have died as a result of a dog bite, Cleveland Police stated. Armed police attended the scene in Dormanstown as part of the response to the tragic incident.
A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death in the Dormanstown incident, multiple reports indicate. The 45-year-old man arrested in Dormanstown has been released on conditional bail, according to major media sources. An investigation into the child's death in Dormanstown is ongoing, police confirmed.
This is a distressing and tragic incident, and thoughts are with the child's family.
One dog was destroyed on the street in Dormanstown, and another was recovered by police and later destroyed, Cleveland Police reported. The dogs in the Dormanstown incident were not assessed as prohibited types by a specialist officer, a police statement noted. Witnesses described the dogs in Dormanstown as grey and white pocket bully types, possibly pit bull or Staffordshire bull terrier crosses, and not large, neighbors and witnesses said.
One dog escaped during the Dormanstown incident and was later shot by police, residents reported. A witness in Dormanstown was heard screaming for help for the baby, a resident described. Police told residents in Dormanstown to stay indoors during the incident, according to residents.
There is a scene in place at the address while an investigation into the child's death begins.
North East Ambulance Service was called to an incident at a private address in Redcar on Thursday, April 9 shortly before 1.30pm, a North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said. North East Ambulance Service dispatched three ambulance crews, one clinical team leader, and one duty officer to the Dormanstown incident, a spokesperson confirmed. One patient was transported to hospital for further treatment, the North East Ambulance Service spokesperson added.
A woman, aged 31, suffered an injury from a dog bite in the Dormanstown incident and received hospital treatment, multiple reports indicate. Cleveland Police said officers were alerted following concerns for a child, based on research from the force. Upon arriving at the property, the child had sadly died, and the child is believed to have died as a result of a dog bite, Cleveland Police stated in their research.
District Commander encouraged anyone with concerns or information to speak to an officer.
Crime scene investigators were called in, The Northern Echo reported. According to District Commander for Redcar and Cleveland Emily Harrison, this is a distressing and tragic incident, and thoughts are with the child's family. There is a scene in place at the address while an investigation into the child's death begins, Harrison said, and she encouraged anyone with concerns or information to speak to an officer.
In a separate incident, a 19-year-old woman died in a suspected dog attack in Leaden Roding, Essex, on April 10, police reported. Police were called to an address in Leaden Roding at around 10:45pm on April 10, according to major media sources.
The 37-year-old man arrested in Leaden Roding remains in custody, multiple reports indicate. A dog thought to be connected to the Leaden Roding incident has been seized by police, major media sources said. An investigation into the woman's death in Leaden Roding is ongoing, police confirmed.
The specific breed or breeds of the dogs involved in the Dormanstown attack have not been definitively identified, and what exactly happened leading up to the dog attack on the baby in Dormanstown remains unclear. The relationships between the arrested individuals and the victims in both incidents are unknown, as are the condition and identity of the dog seized in the Leaden Roding incident. What charges, if any, will be filed against the arrested individuals is yet to be determined as investigations proceed.
These incidents have raised public safety concerns, with authorities urging vigilance and cooperation. Ongoing investigations in both Dormanstown and Leaden Roding aim to uncover the full circumstances and ensure accountability.