OTTUMWA — On May 1, 2024, at approximately 7:03 p.m., the Ottumwa Police Department received a 911 call from 1508 Chester requesting an ambulance for a 9-year-old female victim who had been attacked by a dog.  Police and emergency personnel responded and determined that the 9-year-old girl had been attacked by a pit bull inside this residence.  

The victim was transported to the Ottumwa Regional Health Center where she was transferred to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics via air ambulance for treatment for her injuries.  The child suffered severe injuries to her face, head, right arm and shoulder, and hand, as a result of the dog attack.  

The dog was transported to a local vet office and euthanized.  Remains of the dog also had to be sent for rabies analysis due to the animal not having proper vaccinations.

The owner of the pit bull admitted that the animal was a pit bull mix that he had since it was a puppy.  As a result of the investigation, police arrested Bradford Allan Henry, age 48, of 1508 Chester, Ottumwa.  Henry turned himself in to the police department at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 2nd.

Henry was charged with the following City of Ottumwa Local Ordinances: Animals Which Bite and Keeping Dangerous Animals.  Both of these offenses are simple misdemeanors.  Henry was taken to jail and posted bond and was released.  

So the public is aware, the victim in this case was familiar with the family and this dog.  This child did nothing wrong on this day to justify the actions of this animal.