Bellmore man arrested in pit bull attack

An 18-year-old Bellmorite was arrested Sunday after he allegedly ordered his pit bull to attack a woman, police said.

Luis Linares was apprehended at 1:55 a.m. on Sunday, July 21. His arrest followed a violent incident that started as an argument between two women.

Representatives of the Nassau County Police Department said a 32-year-old woman was engaged in a verbal dispute with another unnamed woman when Linares stepped in. Police did not say whether either woman was related to Linares, nor did they release the address of the incident.

Linares and his dog chased the 32-year-old upstairs to her apartment, police said, with Linares yelling and allegedly ordering the pit bull to attack her. The dog bit the woman in the leg when she entered the apartment, officials said, and Linares followed her despite her cries for him to leave. Police said the victim locked herself in her bathroom, but Linares didn’t leave.

Law enforcement officials said Linares began banging on the bathroom door, eventually punching a two-foot hole in the door, according to reports. Police said he then ordered the dog to attack again.

Although she was bitten, the woman sustained only minor injuries before officers arrived, police said. Her two sons, ages 8 and 10, were unharmed. Officials said the children locked themselves in another room.

Chris Munzing, a Nassau County District Attorney’s Office spokesman, said Linares was arraigned on Sunday and conditionally released to probation. He was charged with second-degree assault, second-degree burglary, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Jan Goldman, a Garden City attorney, is representing Linares. Goldman was unavailable for comment at press time. Munzing said Linares is due back in court on Aug. 2.

Police public information officers said Linares still had custody of the pit bull at press time.