PINE BLUFF -- A Pine Bluff mechanic faces a manslaughter charge in the March death of a man attacked by pit bull dogs.
Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Kyle Hunter's office said dogs belonging to John Chester Smith, 62, attacked and killed 36-year-old De'Trick Omar Johnson of Pine Bluff on March 21 at Smith's garage on Thomas Road.
Authorities said Smith was not at the garage at the time of the attack, and the business was closed. Johnson exited his vehicle and approached the gate when several pit bulls rushed under the fence and attacked him, according to police.
Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Jefferson County sheriff's office said Smith had been warned about the dogs in the past because of their aggressiveness toward people. As of Wednesday afternoon, Smith had not been arrested, though a spokesman for the sheriff's office said he would be before the end of the week.
State Desk on 04/23/2015