A dog owner held on suspicion of murder has been questioned by police after a 55-year-old man died from allegedly being bitten by the suspect’s German Shepherd.
Detectives have now spoken to two people who helped the victim after he was injured by the dog in an altercation near an old train line footpath in Wakefield on Saturday afternoon.
West Yorkshire Police had received reports at 1.36pm that a man had been bitten by the German Shepherd in the Calder Grove area, off Blacker Lane.
The man was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and died shortly after 7pm on Saturday.
Police arrested the dog owner, also 55, on suspicion of murder and being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control in a public place causing injury. He is currently in custody.
The animal was seized by police and is now being held in kennels.
Officers are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to the alleged attack and a warrant has been issued for further detention of the suspect.
Police were at the scene this morning and a cordon remained across the old train line footpath where the incident unfolded.
Police attend the scene of an dog attack in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, after a 55-year-old man died after allegedly being bitten by a German Shepherd
Officers received reports of the alleged dog attack shortly after 1.30pm. The man was rushed to hospital but died shortly after 7pm last night
The dog owner, also 55, has been arrested and his German Shepherd, believed to be the one involved in the attack, has been seized by police
The normally quiet route, which runs along a disused railway line through a wooded area, remained sealed off as detectives continued their investigation.
Police have not said whether the agricultural property or its guard-dog warning sign has any connection to the investigation.
One dog walker said: ‘We don’t normally get any trouble here, it’s very quiet. The path where it happened is a well-trodden route, there’s a lot of dog walkers. I just feel so sorry for the man who died.’
Social media users posting after the death said there had previously been concerns about dangerous dogs roaming loose in the area.
One said they had recently avoided walking over a footbridge towards the nearby Navigation Inn because of a dog they believed was dangerous.
Detective Chief Inspector Michael Cox, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: ‘The two people who stopped to assist and direct police have both come forward and given their accounts to us.
‘I would like to thank them and others who have shared our appeal or come forward with information.
‘We are aware of some inaccurate discussion online about the person we have in custody and would urge people to avoid speculation about those involved and what has taken place.
‘If there is anyone else who was in the area at the time of this incident or anyone else who has information that could assist our enquiries, then I would ask them to please make contact with the investigation team.’
‘We are continuing to question the man who we have in custody, and our enquiries are continuing at a pace to understand the events leading up to this man’s death.
‘We are also offering specialist support to the man’s family at this extremely distressing time.’
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: ‘Detectives investigating the death of a man in Wakefield have now identified and spoken to the two people who came to his assistance.
‘Officers from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are continuing today to investigate the circumstances leading up to the 55-year-old’s death.
‘A warrant of further detention has been authorised for the 55-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder and being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control in a public place causing injury.’
Anyone with information has been asked to call 101, quoting crime reference 13260465524.
Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
