A father in Indiana, United States, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison following the death of his one-week-old son, who was fatally attacked by the family dog at their home in Markle.

The infant, identified as Jason Anthony Weaver, died on September 4, 2025, after being attacked by Chomp, a five-year-old Husky and pit bull mix.

According to reports by the New York Post, the baby sustained more than 180 bite wounds in the attack, alongside severe internal injuries including brain haemorrhages, fractured ribs and injuries to his lungs.

Jason’s father, Austin Kinsey, told investigators that he had been in the same room with the baby while playing video games before briefly leaving to speak with other family members.

A police report obtained by WPTA said Jason’s grandfather, Timothy Kinsey, subsequently heard noises coming from the room and discovered Chomp dragging the infant.

Police officers who arrived at the residence attempted to resuscitate the baby, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Investigators also raised concerns about the condition of the family home, which court documents reportedly described as containing significant amounts of trash, dirty dishes, clothes and insects.

According to the report cited by the New York Post, an officer said there was so much rubbish and debris inside the property that moving around the house was difficult.

Investigators also reportedly found insects on the baby’s car seat.

Court documents indicated that members of the family had regarded Chomp as gentle with Jason. However, authorities said the dog had previously displayed aggressive behaviour towards other animals and had bitten people.

The dog was subsequently euthanised.

Kinsey initially faced two counts of neglect, as well as a charge connected to keeping a non-immunised dog that caused an injury.

As part of a plea agreement, the highest-level neglect charge was dropped. Kinsey was subsequently sentenced to 16 years in prison on Monday.

Meanwhile, Jason’s mother, Violet Weaver, is scheduled to appear for a change-of-plea hearing later this month.

Legal proceedings involving Jason’s grandparents, Timothy Kinsey, Rita Wickey and Michael Wickey, as well as his uncle, Tony Kinsey, are also pending.

Authorities later ordered the family to vacate the property after it was deemed unfit for habitation.

The case has drawn attention to questions surrounding child safety, supervision and the responsibility of pet owners, particularly where animals have previously displayed aggressive behaviour.

The Cross River State Police Command has arrested 60 suspects in connection with the alleged assault of a police officer around Watt Market in Calabar, the state capital.

The arrests followed a viral video circulating on social media, which purportedly showed market women holding a police officer after a chase involving a suspected internet fraudster.

The video was accompanied by claims that the incident occurred after a police officer chased the suspected fraudster and allegedly scattered a trader’s goods at the market.

However, the Cross River State Police Command said the narrative accompanying the video was misleading and did not accurately reflect the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Eitokpah Sunday Akata, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the incident occurred on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at about 3:30pm, after a concerned member of the public alerted the police that an officer was being attacked around Goldie by Etim Edem Lane in Calabar.

The command said a patrol team from Atakpa Police Division was immediately mobilised to the area.

The team reportedly rescued the officer and took him to the police station, where his account of the incident was obtained.

The police said the officer explained that he was proceeding from his office through Goldie by Bedwell Junction to meet members of his team when he attempted to impound a motorcycle.

According to the officer, the motorcycle rider was the same person who had allegedly stepped on his leg while he was carrying out his duties on September 11.

The officer reportedly told investigators that when he attempted to apprehend the rider, some roadside traders allegedly confronted and assaulted him while aiding the rider to evade arrest.

“When I subsequently attempted to apprehend the rider, I was confronted and assaulted by some roadside traders who allegedly aided the rider,” the statement quoted the officer as saying.

The command said the circumstances surrounding the incident were different from the claims being circulated online, urging members of the public to avoid relying on unverified narratives accompanying social media videos.

Following the incident, police operatives commenced investigations and arrested 60 suspects believed to be connected to the alleged assault.

The command said the investigation would establish the identities and individual roles of those involved in the incident.

The police have also continued efforts to clarify what transpired at the market and determine the circumstances that led to the confrontation between the officer, the motorcycle rider and traders in the area.

The command urged residents to cooperate with law enforcement authorities and refrain from actions capable of obstructing police operations or attacking officers while carrying out their lawful duties.

It also cautioned members of the public against drawing conclusions from videos circulated on social media without establishing the full circumstances surrounding such incidents.

The development comes amid renewed concerns over confrontations between security personnel and members of the public during enforcement operations.

The police command said further developments from the investigation would be communicated as appropriately.

The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man, Sani Dikko, for allegedly conspiring with two others to kidnap his grandfather and collect N3 million ransom before his release.

Dikko was arrested alongside two other suspects, Kabir Sani and Salisu Bello, both aged 22, during an operation by operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit in Marabar Shema Village, Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Fage.

According to the statement, the suspects were apprehended on September 12, 2026, at about 8:23pm while the operatives were conducting a confidence-building patrol in the area.

The police said the operation followed credible intelligence received by the command, which enabled the officers to identify and apprehend the suspected three-man kidnapping syndicate.

The statement partly read, “On 12th September 2026, at about 8:23 pm, operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), while on a confidence-building patrol along Marabar Shema Village, acted on credible intelligence and successfully busted a three-man kidnap syndicate.”

The suspects were identified as Sani Dikko, described by the police as an informant, Kabir Sani and Salisu Bello.

During preliminary investigations, the police said the suspects confessed to their alleged involvement in the kidnapping.

According to the command, Dikko specifically confessed to conspiring with the other suspects to abduct his grandfather, identified as Alhaji Lawal, about three weeks earlier.

The victim reportedly spent 16 days in captivity before his release following the payment of N3 million ransom.

The police said the three suspects remained in custody as investigations continued to determine the extent of their activities and uncover any wider criminal network linked to the alleged kidnapping.

Police rescue two kidnapped women
In a separate operation, the Katsina State Police Command also rescued two women who were abducted by bandits during an attack on Sha’iskawa Fulani Village in Kankia Local Government Area.

The victims were identified as 45-year-old Assubi Rabe and 27-year-old Rabi Isyaku.
The two women were reportedly abducted at about 12:45am on September 14, 2026, when about eight armed bandits attacked the community.

The police said the Kankia Divisional Police Officer mobilised operatives to the area after receiving a distress call about the attack.

Upon arrival, the operatives engaged the attackers in a gun duel, forcing the bandits to retreat into the surrounding bush.

The police said the superior firepower of the security team enabled the operatives to rescue both victims unhurt.

“Due to the superior firepower of the police team, the bandits fled into the surrounding bush, allowing operatives to successfully rescue both kidnapped victims unhurt,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police commended the officers involved in the operations for what he described as their gallantry and professionalism.

CP Fage also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining operations aimed at tackling kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes across Katsina State.

He urged residents to continue providing the police with timely and credible information that could assist security agencies in identifying criminal elements and responding swiftly to security threats.

The latest operations come amid continued security challenges involving kidnapping and banditry in parts of Katsina State, with the police maintaining that community cooperation remains essential to combating criminal activities.