Gunfire, dog attack occur in Towaoc

Gunfire, dog attack occur in Towaoc

May 3, 2001

BULLET HOLES riddle the windshield of a truck following a domestic dispute in Towaoc on Monday. The gunfire took place in a residential neighborhood, and resulted in one arrest.

By Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

Two separate incidents of violence — one involving gunfire, the other a dog attack — occurred in Towaoc Monday, according to tribal police.

A domestic-violence dispute resulted in gunfire, a short standoff, and an arrest. A few hours later, three loose dogs mauled a child walking down Chief Ignacio Street, Ute Mountain Ute police reported Wednesday.

Around 5:30 p.m. Monday, according to police, a domestic dispute over a spouse’s use of a vehicle allegedly caused the husband, Terrance Dutchie, 26, to fire five .30-caliber rifle rounds into the windshield of an older-model Toyota truck.

Dutchie then returned to his residence on Mountain Sage Road, and police shortly arrived after a neighbor complained. They were allowed entrance into the home by family members at the scene, and Dutchie was arrested a short time later, according to Ute Police Lt. Dusty Whiting.

"It got a little out of control there for a brief time," Whiting said.

"Any time there is gunfire reported, it is a tense situation."

Alcohol was a factor in the incident, police said.

Dutchie was charged by Bureau of Indian Affairs police with violating probation and tampering with physical evidence for hiding the weapon after the shooting, Whiting said. He said a search of the home resulted in the seizure of three rifles and a bullet-proof vest.

Charges on the shooting are pending an investigation by the FBI. Under the reservation justice system, the results of felony crime investigations are submitted to the U.S. District Attorney’s office, which then decides on prosecution.

In the dog attack, an elementary-school student, whose name and gender were not released, suffered puncture wounds to the arms and legs, after a pit bull and two other mixed-breed dogs gave chase and attacked around 8:30 p.m., Whiting reported.

The juvenile victim was treated by EMTs and was reportedly transported to Southwest Memorial. However, a hospital spokesperson said she could find no record of the child being treated there.

Because there are no animal-control laws on the books in Towaoc, the three separate owners of the dogs do not face criminal charges.

"No law, no crime, which is unfortunate," Whiting said, adding that the tribe does not employ an animal-control officer.

The owners of the aggressive dogs were advised to tie up their pets and watch for behavior changes that could indicate sickness, such as rabies.

Whiting explained that a tribal-housing rule requires dogs to be kept tied-up or enclosed within a fence at homes. But that rule is not enforceable by the BIA police department, he said.

Police are investigating whether the child was left unsupervised.