Girl, 16, who allegedly sicced pit bull on two women charged with assault

A 16-year-old Burien girl who allegedly sicced a pit bull on two women in SeaTac last month has been charged with two counts of third-degree assault.

The teen, who is not being named because she is being charged in King County Juvenile Court, had trained the dog, named Snaps, to attack, according to charging papers. The girl and a group of boys had been abusing the animal on June 21 before the two women were mauled, charging papers allege.

The girl, who has turned 16 since the incident, also was charged with being a minor in possession of alcohol. If convicted, she faces 30 days in jail and up to 150 hours of community service on each charge.

Dan Donohoe, spokesman for Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, said that "because of the seriousness of the case" authorities plan to ask for an exceptional sentence if the girl is convicted.

King County sheriff's Sgt. John Urquhart said a warrant has been issued for the girl's arrest and that deputies are actively looking for her. The girl is scheduled to be arraigned on July 14.

Three White Center boys — ages 11, 12 and 13 — who were with the girl during the attacks will not face charges, Donohoe said.

A 63-year-old woman saw the four youths kicking the dog and pulled her car over and asked if they were OK, according to charging papers. The girl cursed at the woman and told her to butt out, the papers say.

When the woman threatened to call police, the girl leaned into the car, yanked the woman's hair, grabbed her cellphone and beat her with it, according to the charging papers.

The girl kept assaulting the woman as she tried to escape through the car's passenger door, charging papers said. The dog then bit the woman on the thigh and hand.

The woman was treated at Highline Medical Center.

A 41-year-old motorist who confronted the youths as they walked away was also mauled, according to charging papers. That woman said the girl punched her in the face and head, knocking her down. She said the pit bull bit her on both arms, court papers said.

She was taken to Harborview Medical Center and required surgery, charging papers say.

The four youths refused to give their names to deputies, who found two unopened bottles of fortified malt liquor in the girl's backpack.

The four were released to their parents. The dog was impounded by King County Animal Control.

A sheriff's sergeant said the girl told him she had trained the dog to attack burglars, court papers said.

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com