Salt Lake City police attacked by 3 dogs while aiding passed out owner

A woman who was found unconscious in a Salt Lake City parking lot awoke to find she was getting three citations because her dogs allegedly were aggressive to police officers who tried to help her.

The woman, 21, was unresponsive and face down on the ground about 10 p.m. Thursday next to McDonald's, 210 W. 500 South, police wrote in a press statement. Three large, unleashed dogs were with her. Officers described the dogs at pit bulls or pit bull mixes, said Salt Lake City police Det. Dennis McGowan.

As officers tried to make contact with the woman, the dogs became aggressive, police wrote. The officers used pepper spray to protect themselves, but one of the dogs tried to bite the officers several times, McGowan said.

One of the officers struck the dog with a baton, police wrote. The woman eventually woke up and was cited by Salt Lake County Animal Control with three counts of attack by a dog.

Officers said the woman appeared to have passed out after drinking.

ealberty@sltrib.com