A man walking on the West Jefferson sidewalk in Riverview was attacked by a pit bull, causing him to jump into the bed of a nearby van to get away from the dog.

Two officers were dispatched to the scene around 9:15 p.m. on April 2. A witness told police her neighbors in Sibley Road had several incidents when their dog broke free of its chain in the backyard and the dog roamed the pavement throughout the day.

The witness said a stranger was walking on the sidewalk when the dog chased the man and attacked him.

“(The witness) said the dog took the male to the ground and there was a fight,” one of the officers said in his police report.

The witness further testified that the victim stood up and fell into a Ford Ranger, damaging the passenger side mirror. He then jumped into the bed of the truck to get away from the dog.

The victim told the witness not to contact the police until he left the scene.

Officers told the witness that if he saw the victim, urge him to contact the Riverview Police Department.

Police contacted the dog’s owner who confirmed the dog had come loose from its chain that day but said ‘that was the only time this had happened’.

The owner told police the dog was registered with the city and up to date on all his moves.

The police issued a ticket to the owner for the loose dog.