Police have been granted more time to question a man arrested on suspicion of murder after a 55-year-old man died following a dog bite on a footpath in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
Officers from West Yorkshire Police were called to reports of an incident on a disused railway line off Blacker Lane in the Calder Grove area of Wakefield on Saturday. The force confirmed that the victim was attacked by a dog, thought to be a German shepherd, and later died in hospital.
Arrest and further detention
On Monday, police announced they had secured a warrant of further detention for a man, also aged 55, who was arrested on suspicion of murder and being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control in a public place causing injury.
Detectives confirmed they had traced and interviewed the two individuals who stopped to assist the injured man at the scene. A police cordon remained in place on Monday morning, blocking the path entrance beside an old railway bridge, though no officers were present. A patrol vehicle was stationed a short distance along Blacker Lane.
Appeal for information
Detective Chief Inspector Michael Cox, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: "The two people who stopped to assist and direct police have both come forward and given their accounts to us. I would like to thank them and others who have shared our appeal or come forward with information.
"We are aware of some inaccurate discussion online about the person we have in custody and would urge people to avoid speculation about those involved and what has taken place. If there is anyone else who was in the area at the time of this incident or anyone else who has information that could assist our enquiries, then I would ask them to please make contact with the investigation team.
"We are continuing to question the man who we have in custody, and our enquiries are continuing at a pace to understand the events leading up to this man's death. We are also offering specialist support to the man's family at this extremely distressing time."
Dog seized
The dog believed to have been involved in the incident has been seized and is currently in police custody.
