Marauding pit bulls shot outside elementary
                  school

                  Associated Press, 05/14/98 07:00

                  CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Two marauding pit bull dogs terrorized a
                  neighborhood near an elementary school until they were killed by police who
                  then arrested their owner.

                  Police started receiving complaints from frantic residents about 7:30 a.m.
                  Wednesday, Capt. C. David Michel said.

                  A secretary at Watts Elementary School was forced to take refuge in her
                  car, and another man leaped to the roof of his vehicle for safety, police said.
                  The dogs then attacked and killed a smaller dog being walked by his owner,
                  who fled to safety.

                  Michel said the police and humane officers were unable to capture both dogs
                  at once. They emptied canisters of pepper spray on the dogs to no avail, and
                  ``they only had one other option,'' Michel said.

                  The dogs' owner, Jonathan Mathew Hereford, 22, of Charleston, was
                  charged with disorderly conduct and assault on a police officer. Police found
                  a number of outstanding warrants against him, including battery, destruction
                  of property, and breaking and entering an automobile.

                  He was released on bond.

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