Pageland man charged after child injured in dog attack

A three‑year‑old child was hospitalized Tuesday (March 10) after being mauled by a dog that Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office said had a documented history of aggression and was not properly secured at the time of the attack.
Sheriff Cambo Streater said deputies were called to a home off Sale Barn Lane in the Pageland area around 4:25 p.m. March 10.
When they arrived, they found evidence of a violent attack, including significant blood loss near the residence. The child had already been airlifted to a trauma center in Charlotte.
According to investigators, the dog belonged to Richard Bragg, 59, of Pageland, who lives in the same area. Deputies learned the animal had been involved in a previous attack roughly two years ago. In that earlier case, Bragg was convicted, and a judge ordered that the dog be securely contained by fencing or tethered to prevent further incidents.
Streater said that during this incident, deputies found that the dog was not properly contained.
After speaking with witnesses and the child’s father, deputies arrested Bragg for permitting a dangerous/vicious animal to run at large second offense. He was transported to the Chesterfield County Detention Center without incident.
Deputy J. McGovern of the Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division took custody of the dog, described as a male XL Bully/Old English Bulldog mix.
The animal was transported to the Chesterfield County Animal Shelter, where officials say it made repeated attempts to charge and bite the deputy handling it. The dog is being held pending a court‑ordered seizure hearing, which must be scheduled within 72 hours.
Streater said McGovern later met with the child’s family at the hospital.
Medical staff reported the child suffered twelve lacerations to the head, face, stomach, and arm. The injuries were not considered life‑threatening.
Streater said the child was admitted overnight for pain management and observation and was projected to be released with a positive prognosis for recovery.
“The Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office takes incidents involving aggressive animals and injuries to children extremely seriously,” he said. “Our Animal Control Division responded quickly and acted appropriately to secure the dog and ensure there was no further danger to the community. We strongly condemn any situation where an animal poses a threat to the safety of our residents, especially our children.”
The investigation is ongoing, and no additional details have been released.