Mother Takes Blame For Police Dog Attack On Her Daughter

A K-9 bit a woman and her 6-year-old child after a police officer in McKeesport offered to drive the girl to school after she missed her bus.

McKeesport police said officer Fran Angert was related to the family and stopped to offer the girl a ride to school near 30th Street.

A witness said the mother, Sherry Floris, opened the back door and the K-9, named Nero, lunged out and attacked the girl.

"She was fighting the dog," said the witness. "She was trying to get the dog off of her."

Floris said she didn't want the officer to lose his job. "In the back of my mind I don't know what I was thinking. I walked over to the car, opened the car door, Nero ran out and he jumped on top of Maria," said Floris.

She suffered a bite wound to her stomach. She is expected to be OK.

McKeesport police said that Angert was also bit when he was trying to help the mother and daughter.

The mother was hospitalized with a finger wound. The officer also injured his arm.

Sharon Bianconi said the incident happened in her driveway.

"I was scared," said Bianconi. "Everything just happened so fast."

Bianconi said the child's mother opened the car door without waiting for the officer.

"As she opened the door, the dog jumped out and jumped on the girl and the officer immediately got out and started pulling the dog off of the girl," said Bianconi. "I don't blame the dog or the officer. I do not."

The McKeesport police chief said Nero the dog is a Belgium Malinois and has been with the force since 2005. The chief said the dog has no prior history of acting without a command.

Police said early indications show that Nero was performing exactly as he was trained to do; to protect the patrol car and the officer.

Angert and Nero are both on administrative leave pending investigation. Police have not said what will happen to the dog.

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