NEW ATHENS, Ill. -- An 8-year-old girl is recovering from bite wounds suffered when she was attacked by two German shepherds belonging to her town’s former police chief.
The girl was treated at a Belleville hospital after the dog attack this week in New Athens.
Authorities say the girl and a friend were walking when Dallas Hill’s dogs approached, sniffed them and suddenly attacked. A neighbor came to the girl’s rescue with a baseball bat.
The girl suffered bite marks on her leg, back and chest.
Investigators say one of the dogs is a trained police dog, although neither dog works for New Athens police.
Hill was issued a citation for violating St. Clair County ordinance and given a court date.
Hill doesn’t have a listed home telephone number and couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.
