THUNDER BAY -- Samantha Mekanak broke down in tears on the witness stand while describing her son Dante’s injuries from a dog attack nearly two years ago.
The trial for 58-year-old Frank Vantroba began Tuesday at the Thunder Bay Courthouse; the city man was charged in November 2012 with criminal negligence causing bodily harm after one of his dogs allegedly jumped on a young boy and bit his face.
Vantroba has been accused of leaving the scene without helping the boy.
Dante Mekanak, then 11 years old, needed 65 stitches and also received rabies treatment.
His mother, Samantha Mekanak, testified that when she first saw Dante’s face that day, she told him keep it covered, worried his face could fall apart.
She said his sleeves were covered in blood and there was also blood on the front of his shirt.
Samantha Mekanak also testified that her son was familiar with dogs and he was free-spirited and courageous.
The court also heard from city animal services officer Christopher Johnson, who said Vantroba admitted to him the day after the incident, he did have his four Old English bulldogs off-leash in the boarded hockey rink area when Dante jumped over the boards.
The boards of the rink had been erected but there was no ice yet.
One of the dogs, an adult male named Big Brown, charged Dante and Vantroba yelled stop, but the animal jumped on the boy.
Vantroba told Johnson he asked Dante why he had jumped over the boards and all Dante said was sorry.
He also told Johnson he did not see any blood.
The four dogs included an adult male, an adult female and two pups. The city issued Vantroba with a restraint order on Big Brown on Nov. 20, 2012.
On Oct. 22, 2013, Vantroba voluntarily surrendered Big Brown to animal services where he was euthanized. New homes were found for the other three dogs.
Ronald Frost also testified Tuesday afternoon; he was exiting his home on Nov. 17, 2012 when he saw three children walking up the street. One of the children looked like he had been beaten up so he asked them if they were OK.
When Frost, heard what happened and saw Dante’s face, he took out his phone and called 911, asking for an ambulance.
“I remember seeing it looked like part of his skin had fallen down,” Frost said, describing Dante’s injuries.
He then walked the children back to Dante’s home and told his mother he had already called 911 and to wait for the ambulance.
The trial is expected to continue Wednesday starting with Dante’s testimony.
