MAN WHO SET OFF “DOG ON DOG” ATTACK CONVICTED

Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces the conviction by guilty plea of 68-year-old Wayde Clark of Atlanta on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals, aggravated assault, criminal trespass and public drunkenness. The defendant’s trial began yesterday with jury selection, but ended today when Clark decided to plead guilty to all charges. He was sentenced to ten years in prison with two years to serve; the remainder on probation.

The case stems from a May 29, 2010 incident on Spring Garden Drive in southwest Atlanta. The obviously intoxicated Clark was walking with his two pit bulldogs when he unlocked the gate to a neighbor’s home. He removed the cinder block and Herbie Curbie the owner had used to secure his property and put his dogs into the neighbor’s yard. The pit bulls attacked the two puppies in the yard, a Labrador mix and an 8-month-old Shepherd. The 22-pound Shepherd mix, named Crackerjack, was killed.

When a neighbor intervened and attempted to stop the mauling of Crackerjack, the defendant commanded one of his dogs to attack her. She made it safely back to her home and called 911. Fulton County Animal Control officers took custody of the pit bulls. One was deemed dangerous and euthanized.

The case was tried before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Henry Newkirk by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jill Hollander, who was assisted by ADA Jehan Luqman. It was investigated by Atlanta Police Officer V. Sims, DA Investigator Walter Britt and Fulton Animal Control Officer J. Hawkins.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov