Eleven people attacked by dog inside Barton Street East restaurant

Hamilton police have charged a woman after her dog attacked nearly a dozen people inside of a restaurant in the city's east end.

In a media release Friday, police said just before 7 p.m. Thursday night, officers were called to 1042 Barton St. E. - the address of The Stop Restaurant Bar and Grill - for a threat in progress.

When officers got there, they found a chaotic scene" that involved a number of victims of a dog attack.

Police said a woman had allegedly let her dog loose" in the restaurant and was encouraging the dog to attack citizens." The dog continued to be aggressive and was lunging toward officers and patrons, according to release.

Officers on scene deployed their conductive energy weapon (a Taser) in order to control the dog and ensure further safety of everyone involved," said police.

The dog died at the scene.

Police said there were 11 victims as a result of the attack, with injuries varying from minor to serious. Two of the victims will also require surgery, said Const. Krista-Lee Ernst.

A 32-year-old woman from Hamilton was arrested in relation to the attack and has been charged with six counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, four counts of utter threat to cause death or bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

Her identity has not been released by police and the accused remains in custody.

Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com