Crime & Safety

New Details in Dog Attacks: Owner Ordered Pit Bull to 'Eat it

Donnell Barden, arrested Monday, served in prison for attempted murder in the 1990s.

More details have emerged in the case of the man charged with using his pit bull—and his own knife—to attack a dog in Prospect Park.

Donnell Barden, 42, of Flatbush, was arrested yesterday on charges that he encouraged his pit bull to attack a Lab/Husky mix in Prospect Park on May 17, then pulled out a knife and stabbed the Lab/Husky nine times.

According to Eric Barstad, 28, who helped organize the campaign that led to Barden's capture, the May attack was just one of several by Barden's dog, reportedly named Mack, against neighborhood pets:

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- In February Mack attacked a woman's dog and then Barden allegedly beat the dog with a metal cane.

- On Friday, August 2, Mack attacked a dog and then Barden allegedly held the victim dog by the collar to prevent him from fighting back.  

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- That same Friday, Mack attacked a dog who was out running with its owner. The runner grabbed Mack's collar, and then Barden allegedly grabbed the other man's dog's cooler, thrust him toward Mack and said "Eat it! Eat it!"

This isn't Barden's first arrest. In 1993 he pleaded guilty to attempted murder, second degree assault and numerous other charges and was sentenced to up to 12 years in prison, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's office.


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