Warrant issued for owner
in alleged pit bull attack

WAILUKU » A bench warrant has been issued for a Maui man whose pit bull allegedly mauled a woman at his Pukalani residence.

Part-time Wailuku District Judge Barclay MacDonald issued the warrant for the arrest of Scot Barrie, after he failed to appear in court yesterday for allegedly failing to comply with a Maui County Animal Control Board order that the dog be confined within his house.

The dog, Faust, has been held by the Maui Humane Society since Dec. 3, when an animal control officer allegedly found a window open in the house in violation of the board's order.

Barrie could face a maximum $1,000 fine and 30 days in jail if convicted of the petty misdemeanor charge of violating the dangerous dog law. A judge could also order the dog to be destroyed if Barrie is convicted, according to the county Prosecutor's Office.

Hailiimaile resident Sandra Sardinha said she had gone to the residence to return a bag of children's clothes on Nov. 16, when she sat on the wall fronting the residence occupied by Barrie.

She said that as she leaned down to pick up a pack of her cigarettes, the dog leaped on her and bit her numerous times, ripping off a portion of her scalp.

Based on the attack on Sardinha, the Animal Control Board last month declared Faust a dangerous dog and ordered Barrie to have it confined to a kennel or a house.

Barrie failed to appear in court in December for an alleged violation associated with the dog attack, Animal Control Supervisor Aimee Anderson said.

A hearing is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. Monday in Wailuku District Court on a Humane Society petition asking a judge to order the destruction of the dog.