Dog that attacked toddler euthanized

An investigation into an auto theft at a local business took a tragic turn Tuesday morning, when the responding deputy spotted a dog with a toddler in its mouth.

Harris walked closer and realized that the dog had a child in its mouth.

They tried yelling at the dog so it would let go, but they say it ran away.

The business alerted the child’s mother, the police said, and the child was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital.

“We’re still looking into what exactly transpired”, she said.

Budd and Hillsborough County Deputy Jeffrey Harris, who just happened to be at the business on an unrelated matter jumped into action.

The dog, a 50 lb. boxer, belonged to the victim’s family.

“It hit me… oh my God it was a child”, she said.

She said one month ago, Diaz’s older brother came begging her for help.

Neighbors told me, they’ve seen her running around unchained in the past.

Teresa Budd can’t shake what she saw.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Det.

The toddler, identified as Michael Diaz, was in serious condition at Tampa General Hospital. Animal services were then called to the scene.