Dog Owner Questioned After 55-Year-Old Man Dies Following German Shepherd Attack in Wakefield

A 55-year-old man was being questioned on suspicion of murder after another man died in hospital following an alleged German Shepherd attack during an altercation on a Wakefield footpath.

The incident happened on Saturday afternoon, August 15, on the old train line footpath off Blacker Lane in the Calder Grove area of Wakefield.

West Yorkshire Police received reports of an altercation at around 1.36pm, during which a 55-year-old man was bitten by a dog.

He was taken to hospital in a critical condition but died shortly after 7pm.

The dog owner, also aged 55, was arrested on suspicion of murder and of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control in a public place causing injury.

A German Shepherd believed to have been involved was seized by officers and placed in police kennels.

Two witnesses come forward

Detectives investigating the death have since spoken to two people who stopped to help the injured man and directed police to the scene.

The witnesses had initially been urged to contact investigators as police worked to establish exactly what happened during the altercation.

Detective Chief Inspector Michael Cox, from West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, thanked the two people for coming forward.

He also appealed to anyone else who may have been in the area at the time to contact detectives if they saw or heard any part of the confrontation.

Police said they were aware of inaccurate claims circulating online about the man in custody and urged the public not to speculate about those involved or the circumstances of the death.

Footpath remains cordoned off

The normally quiet route, which follows a disused railway line through a wooded area, remained sealed off while detectives continued their investigation.

One local dog walker described the area as peaceful and well used by people exercising their dogs.

“We don’t normally get any trouble here, it’s very quiet,” the walker said.

“The path where it happened is a well-trodden route, there’s a lot of dog walkers. I just feel so sorry for the man who died.”

There were also comments on social media claiming that concerns had previously been raised about dangerous dogs in the area.

One person said they had recently chosen not to walk across a footbridge towards the nearby Navigation Inn because of a dog they believed posed a danger.

Police have not said whether an agricultural property near the scene, or a warning sign referring to a guard dog, has any connection to the investigation.

Police seek answers over fatal altercation

Investigators were working to establish what led to the confrontation and what happened immediately before the dog bit the victim.

A warrant for the suspect’s further detention was authorised as detectives continued questioning him.

DCI Cox said the investigation was progressing and that specialist support was being provided to the victim’s family.

“We are continuing to question the man who we have in custody, and our enquiries are continuing at a pace to understand the events leading up to this man’s death,” he said.

“We are also offering specialist support to the man’s family at this extremely distressing time.”

West Yorkshire Police confirmed that officers from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team remained involved in the investigation.

The force said the German Shepherd seized in connection with the case continued to be held in police kennels.

Anyone with information was asked to contact police on 101, quoting crime reference 13260465524. Information could also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

At this stage, the circumstances surrounding the death remained under investigation.