Owner of Three Dogs Suspected in Rails to Trails Attack Arrested

A man whose three dogs reportedly attacked an Avon Old Farms employee and her dog on the Avon side of Rails to Trails Dec. 16 has been arrested on charges related to the incident.

Thomas Badera, 53, 56 Pinewood Drive, Farmington, turned himself into the Avon Police Department Jan. 14 at 3:30 p.m. on a warrant.

Avon police arrested him on charges of second-degree reckless endangerment, three counts of allowing his dogs to roam and violation of three town ordinances. The police blotter did not specify the ordinances, but the town of Avon has an ordinance on “nuisance dogs,” which states “the purpose of this division is to identify and place restrictions on dogs that pose a risk of injury to persons or animals.”

A female Avon Old Farms School employee, whose name police have not released, was bitten and her dog was injured, according to Avon Old Farms officials.

Lt. Marshall Porter, spokesman for the Farmington Police Department, previously described the dogs as "large" and possibly "Mastiffs."

Farmington police interviewed another person in the area on Dec. 16 who claimed he had also been attacked by "three dogs" on the trail in the past. Police have not indicated if the incidents were connected.

Badera was issued a $10,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 26.

He could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.