Man's Ears Partially Bitten Off By Dog During Alleged Robbery Attempt

WHITTIER (CBS) — Police in Whittier are investigating a vicious dog attack on an apparent robbery victim.

The incident happened during a fight between the victim and his alleged attacker Saturday night. Police say the 43-year-old victim refused to hand over his money, and fought with the 17-year-old suspect.

The teen suspect's father, who was walking their Pit bull-Labrador mix, saw the fight and approached them. Police say the dog then bit off the tops of the victim's ears.

Police arrested the father, Richard Arragon, and his son, who has been charged as a juvenile. Both men are facing charges of attempted robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

The juvenile's mother, Kim Flores, spoke exclusively to KCAL 9 saying her son asked the victim for a cigarette before a fight broke out between the two of them.

Flores told KCAL's Edward Lawrence that the victim may not have understood English and didn't understand what her son had asked for. She also said the victim may have been drunk.

"The gentleman who was assaulted, according to officers, pushed my son away and tried to get him in a headlock and that initiated the fight," Flores said.

Several witnesses say police officers got out of control when they arrested the alleged teen attacker.

"They put him in the car, then they took him out again, put him on the floor, then they pepper sprayed him again and they tasered him," said Annette Dovalina.

Police have obtained surveillance video of the incident for an investigation.

The victim received stitches at a local hospital after the attack.