Twin Falls Police were dispatched at approximately 1:10 p.m. on Jan. 29, 2015 to the area of Wendell Street and Robbins Avenue, where a pedestrian reported that she and her dog had been attacked by two larger dogs.
When Officer Tevita Messenger arrived, he witnessed Biba Ramovic, 66, of Twin Falls, on the ground and being viciously attacked by two adult pit bulls. He also saw Abigail Goodman, also of Twin Falls, putting her own safety at risk by attempting to stop the attack with only her bare hands.
Officer Messenger was able to stop the attack by using his TASER on one of the dogs, which was momentarily incapacitated but otherwise uninjured. The second dog stopped its attack on the elderly woman but continued to circle the victim in an aggressive manner. Even as additional officers arrived, the dogs continued to act aggressively toward Ramovic, who was suffering from severe lacerations that she received in the attack.
Officers again used TASERs to prevent the dogs from attacking; however, one of the dogs broke free of the TASER and fled the area. During the incident, Goodman again displayed her bravery by helping to fend off the vicious dogs and by providing first-aid to Ramovic, whom she had never met prior to the attack.
“Mrs. Goodman showed great determination and bravery to assist a person she did not know,” said Sgt. David Frick, Twin Falls Police Department. “Her actions may well have stopped further attacks that would have caused more serious injuries to the victim.”
Officers assisted with treating the victim until an ambulance arrived and could transport Ramovic to St. Luke’s Magic Valley Hospital. Both dogs were captured and transported to the Twin Falls Animal Shelter, until the owner of the dogs could be contacted.
Because of the selflessness and courage that Goodman display in her steadfast defense of Ramovic, officers requested that Goodman be awarded the Twin Falls Police Department Chief’s Award — a recognition that is reserved for exceptional acts of service to the community.
“We don’t give these often, and we don’t take them lightly,” said Bryan Krear, Chief of Police of the Twin Falls Police Department. “What Mrs. Goodman did was put the safety of another person before her own. That takes a lot of courage."