A 44-year-old Ogden man is facing a third-degree felony aggravated assault charge after police say he commanded his dog to attack a stranger late Saturday, leaving the victim with deep lacerations across his hands, arms, face, and head, and part of his skull exposed from a cut. Benjamin Christopher Orlob was booked into the Weber County Jail following the attack in the 3100 block of Wall Avenue and remained in custody as of Tuesday morning.
According to Gephardt Daily, an Ogden City police officer was dispatched at 11:07 p.m. Saturday to a report of an animal bite. The victim, identified only as J.N., told officers that Orlob commanded the dog toward him and told it to attack — a claim Orlob disputed, telling police instead that the dog had slipped its leash and chased J.N. on its own.
Per the arrest document, there was probable cause both that Orlob failed to properly secure his dog and that he commanded the animal toward J.N. to attack him. Orlob told officers the dog that bit the victim belonged to him and said he could not get the animal off J.N. once the attack began, even as it continued biting the victim.
Witnesses Describe a Brutal, Sustained Mauling
Two separate witnesses reported watching the attack unfold. The first witness told officers they saw the dog biting the man and inflicting serious injuries to his arms, face, and head. A second witness said they saw the victim viciously bitten and described kicking the dog multiple times in an attempt to stop it.
Other witnesses at the scene held the dog down in the middle of the street before officers arrived and put leashes on the animal to bring it under control. J.N. was left with a split ear, puncture wounds across his body, and the exposed portion of his skull from the head laceration, according to the report cited by the same outlet. Police determined that J.N. was in serious condition, and Ogden City Fire personnel, who arrived at the scene before the reporting officer, provided medical attention to the victim.
Suspect Found Hiding Near Car Dealership
Multiple callers reported that Orlob was attempting to flee the scene as the incident unfolded. A police officer later located him hiding near a car dealership. When taken into custody, Orlob was found possessing a small wrapper he said contained marijuana, according to the report.
Orlob was booked for investigation of four offenses: third-degree felony aggravated assault, along with three class B misdemeanors — allowing a vicious animal to go at large, dog or cat at large, and possession of a Schedule III controlled substance. Under Utah Code § 76-5-103 and § 76-3-203, a third-degree felony aggravated assault conviction carries a statutory penalty of up to five years in the Utah State Prison and a fine of up to $5,000, according to The Stone Law Firm. Utah's third-degree felony assault statute applies when an actor uses a dangerous weapon or unlawful force likely to produce serious bodily injury.
Each of the three class B misdemeanor counts against Orlob is separately punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 plus state surcharges, per the same firm's guidance on Utah criminal law. Ogden Municipal Code 13-2-6A and Ordinance 13-3-6A require dogs to be leashed and humanely restrained at all times when off private property, with off-leash activity permitted only inside designated fenced dog parks, according to the City of Ogden Animal Control office.
What Happens to the Dog Now
Any animal involved in a human bite incident in Ogden is required to undergo a mandatory quarantine hold — either at home if the animal qualifies or at the county shelter or a veterinary clinic — to monitor for rabies exposure, per Ogden City Police Department and Weber County Animal Control protocols. Weber County Animal Services manages centralized sheltering operations at the Weber County Fairgrounds in Ogden, where impounded, at-large, or quarantined animals from across the county are housed.
Separately, Ogden City Municipal Code 13-2-7 allows animal control officers to deem a dog a public nuisance if it is classified as a vicious animal or dangerous dog, authorizing the city to seek voluntary owner surrender or pursue court action to abate the animal through relocation or euthanasia. That process is administrative and distinct from the criminal charges Orlob now faces.
Medical Risks and Civil Options for the Victim
Severe dog bites like the ones described in J.N.'s case carry heightened risks of deep tissue infection such as cellulitis or sepsis, along with rabies exposure, tetanus, and permanent nerve damage, frequently requiring emergency room wound debridement, stitches, or reconstructive surgery, according to guidance from Steele Adams Hosman. Canine bite wounds in particular carry elevated infection risk because of oral bacteria.
Beyond the criminal case, Utah's strict liability framework under Utah Code § 18-1-1 means dog owners or keepers are legally responsible for injuries their dogs cause, regardless of whether the victim can prove the owner was negligent or that the animal had a prior history of viciousness, according to Ruesch Reeve Werrett & Jones PLLC. Utah is among roughly 30 states with strict liability dog bite statutes rather than a one-bite rule. Under Utah Code § 78B-2-307, J.N. would have up to four years from the date of the injury to file a civil personal injury lawsuit against Orlob to recover damages for medical expenses and trauma.
