A man who was arrested after a three-year-old boy was mauled to death by a dog in Rochdale has been released on bail.
'Happy and kind' Daniel John Twigg was attacked by a dog outside a property on Carr Lane in Milnrow on Sunday afternoon (May 15). The youngster was rushed to hospital but tragically died a short time later.
Police arrested a 48-year-old man under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in connection with the incident. In an update issued today (May 19), a spokesperson for the force confirmed he has since been released from custody and is on bail.
Detectives said previously that they were reviewing 'other incidents of note' and that a referral has been made to the police watchdog due to 'previous contact' with GMP.
A dog was put down after the incident - a Cane Corso. Several other dogs have also been seized and enquiries in relation to them are ongoing.
Daniel and his family were renting a residential property on the site off Carr Lane. Police said the young boy was outside his home with a number of dogs before he was attacked.
In a heartbreaking tribute to the youngster, his family described him as their 'happy little boy'. They said: "Daniel was a happy, kind and caring little boy who was loved by all who knew him.
"He loved Paw Patrol and playing with his brother and sister, he also loved being around animals - especially his pony, Splash. He brought us many laughs and was a comical character.
"He was brave, intelligent and full of many characteristics. Daniel loved being with his whole family and will be missed by all. On behalf of our family, we ask people to respect our privacy."
Following Daniel's death, two women told the Manchester Evening News how they were attacked by a dog close to the farm where he was mauled. A woman said she made a complaint to police last year after she was mauled by a dog while walking on a footpath just yards from where the fatal attack happened.
Kia Walker, 19, was left with horrific injuries to her arm following the attack in April 2021. However, she said officers told her the investigation 'couldn’t go any further' as 'there wasn’t enough evidence'. Police said Kia chose to take no further action.
A second woman said that she was attacked by a dog less than 100 yards from the same place. The woman, who asked not to be named, shared gruesome images of injuries she said she sustained after being bitten by a Cane Corso on March 29, 2020.
"The dog wasn't on a lead," she said. "It was hanging off my arms and tugging at me. It bit me on my side." It is not believed to be the same dog that was involved in the attack on Daniel.
Detective Chief Inspector Dave Jones, of GMP’s Professional Standards Branch, said: "We are aware of a number of incidents of note which preceded the death of three-year-old Daniel Twigg. As per the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s Statutory Guidance, we have made a referral to the IOPC and are awaiting a decision from their analysts, which will determine how this investigation is progressed.
"GMP is committed to delivering outstanding service which keeps people safe and cares for victims. Professional analysis of our actions is key to achieving this so we ask members of the public and the media to refrain from speculating at this time."
