Crime

Owner of 5 Pit Bulls That Almost Killed 84-Year-Old Man Arrested Four Months Later

ST. CROIX — The owner of seven pit bull dogs — five of which viciously attacked an 84-year-old man in his own yard last year in Clifton Hill — was arrested on Wednesday morning some four months following the incident that almost killed the victim, identified by family as Gladestone Alexander Simon, Sr.  Mr. Simon had to be airlifted to Puerto Rico for treatment and had remained in critical condition while there. In October, the family of Mr. Simon solicited the community's help in raising funds to transfer their father to a John Hopkins facility on the mainland. The transfer, to include specialized equipment needed to keep Mr. Simon stable during the flight, cost between $35,000-$40,000, according to Gladestone Alexander Simon, Jr., the son of the victim. On Thursday, the V.I.P.D. said Elson A. Jones was arrested pursuant to a warrant issued by the Superior Court. Mr. Jones was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, registration, confinement and confiscation of dangerous dog...