A 68-year-old man from Antelope Valley has been arrested following a tragic incident involving his dog that resulted in a 12-year-old boy drowning at a park in California.
Kenneth Dobbins was taken into custody on Thursday in Lancaster after a civilian recognized him walking near his job and alerted law enforcement.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies swiftly intervened and arrested him without incident.
This arrest relates to a heartbreaking event that occurred on June 18 in California City, a town located about 160 miles north of Los Angeles, where 12-year-old Fernando Torres Moreno died while trying to flee from a dog attack.
Authorities have reported that around 6 p.m., a dog belonging to Dobbins began to chase the boy.
As details emerged, it was indicated that two unleashed dogs pursued Fernando, causing him to fall into the lake while trying to escape.
When emergency responders from the California City Police Department arrived, they discovered the boy submerged in the water.
Officers pulled him out and administered CPR before he was rushed to a hospital in Tehachapi Valley.
He was subsequently transferred to Children’s Hospital in Bakersfield, where he unfortunately died from his injuries, according to reports referenced by the Los Angeles Times.
Dobbins faces charges of manslaughter and negligent ownership of a nuisance animal.
An initial court hearing for him is yet to be scheduled.
