ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – A man walking his dog in a downtown park suffers minor injuries after a fight broke out in response to his dog defecating not far from a girl lying on the grass.

“The gentleman walks his dog twice a day along the barriers of the park,” said eyewitness B.B. McBride, “and the dog goes to the bathroom every single time near that tree.”

It happened around 11:15 Tuesday morning at Lucas Park at 13th and St. Charles streets, a place where loft-livers walk their dogs amidst homeless resting under shade trees. The park is a short walk from the New Life Evangelistic Center for the homeless. It’s not clear whether any of those involved in the fight were homeless.

Police say the 38-year old dog owner got into trouble when his dog relieved himself in the vicinity of a girl lying on the grass. The girl’s father and the dog owner exchanged words. Police say the dog owner, who is white, called the other man, who is black, a racial slur. Other black men in the park began to gather around.

According to police, one of the men grabbed a metal piece of rebar and struck both the dog owner and the dog. Before police could arrive, the attacker got away. Police say they have no leads on his identity. The father of the girl who was lying near the dog is charged with peace disturbance.

Eyewitness B.B. McBride says it appeared to be an unfortunate misunderstanding.

“He went to search for a bag to pick the manure up, and he was never given a chance,” McBride said, “They thought he was walking away.”

Police say the dog had a minor injury.

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