Dog defends Fairfield homeowners from intruders

FAIRFIELD — A Fairfield couple credits their dog for saving them from harm when two intruders allegedly tried to enter their home and rob them.

Tori McPherson and her boyfriend Jesse Rios live in the 1100 block of West Hempstead Avenue in Fairfield. The couple have a pit bull named Bonnie, and on the night of Tuesday, July 5, Bonnie came to their aid when they needed her most.

It was about 11:30 p.m., and McPherson had just woken up to turn on the air conditioner because she was warm. She said she heard a quiet knock at the door. Bonnie heard it, too, and was “barking uncontrollably.” McPherson said Bonnie’s barking made her feel uneasy about who was knocking.

“I wasn't going to answer, but the second knock had woken up Jessie,” McPherson said. “As soon as he opened the door, we were already being attacked.”

McPherson said she and Rios tried to push out the first intruder, but they were overpowered by a second intruder.

“Jessie and Bonnie were fighting both intruders as I went to grab a gun to scare them off,” McPherson said. “I pointed the gun at the second intruder and he ran out of the house.”

McPherson said she saw the second intruder, who was wearing a white mask, enter a dark-colored SUV. Rios continued fighting the first intruder into the street. That man was later identified as Jose Perez Rojas, 20, of Mt. Pleasant, who was charged with second degree robbery and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony.

“That's when I realized Bonnie was still biting Jose all over his body,” McPherson said. “I believe Bonnie was helping us the whole time. She definitely knew they were not supposed to be there. Jessie stated if it wasn't for Bonnie, he wouldn't have been able to fight off both intruders long enough for me to grab the gun. I think she knew there were bad people at the door before we did.”

McPherson called 911, and within two minutes, members of the Fairfield Police Department were on the scene. Rios suffered a couple of cuts and bruises on his hands and back from the struggle, McPherson said, while Bonnie seemed stressed, constantly licking and scratching herself.

“It was difficult to sleep for several nights after the incident, but with time we are getting back to our normal selves,” McPherson said.

McPherson said she hopes that the ordeal serves as a reminder to the community that pit bulls are not mean animals, but rather protectors.

“There is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad owners,” she said. “Bonnie is proof that when a dog loves you, they will do whatever it takes to protect you.”

According to a police report on Iowa Courts Online, law enforcement agents interviewed Perez-Rojas, and he told them that he and two other individuals planned to beat up the victim in the home “until he disclosed the location of cash and drugs.” The report indicates that Perez-Rojas told officers that another subject came to the door with him and assisted him in forcing it open when the victim opened it. He allegedly told officers that the other subject fled when the victim’s dog began biting them.

“Perez-Rojas also stated that there was another subject who was waiting approximately two blocks away in a vehicle, and was supposed to assist them with escaping after the robbery,” the report stated.

Perez-Rojas was originally appointed Larry Brock of Washington as his attorney, but Brock filed a motion to withdraw, citing a conflict of interest. Brock was replaced by Andrew Stangl of Sigourney as Perez-Rojas’s appointed attorney. Stangl did not respond for a request for comment.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com