Downstate man charged in pitbull attack

EAST CARONDELET -- A man has been charged with violating a St. Clair County ordinance after his pit bull allegedly attacked an 8-year-old boy on Veteran's Day.

St. Clair County Sheriff's Department Capt. Steve Johnson says Jesse D. Sellers was charged Wednesday with failing to contain a dangerous dog with a leash.

The dog was quarantined. Sellers has a court date of Dec. 31.

Johnson says the boy was playing on his own yard when the pit bull attacked him. The child went to an area hospital with bite wounds to his head, eyes and back of his neck.

Officials say Sellers told them he left the dog outside for a minute while he went in his house. There is no telephone listing for Sellers in East Carondelet.