Woman sics dogs on officers at arrest

A Roslindale woman allegedly unleashed at least two pit bull dogs on Boston police officers as they tried to arrest her inside her house yesterday. But police said she was the one who ended up being bitten.

The woman, Donna Pimentel, 47, was wanted on warrants from three district courts on charges including larceny, drug possession, and making annoying phone calls, authorities said.

Police arrived at her three-story home on Ridge Street about 9 a.m. and handcuffed the woman, but she insisted they had the wrong person and demanded to be allowed to enter a first-floor apartment to get her identity papers.

The dogs, which had been in the backyard, had raced inside the apartment when police showed up. Police tried to distract the dogs, but the woman egged them on.

While officers and the woman huddled in a rear stairwell, one of the dogs bit the woman in the thigh.

Animal control officers arrived and corralled the dogs, police said.

The house, which police said may have been an illegal rooming house, was in complete disarray, with most rooms littered with dog feces and urine, police said. The dogs were taken to the animal control shelter in Roslindale.

The woman was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and resisting arrest.

She was wanted in Boston Municipal Court for driving after suspension and in Dedham District Court for larceny over $250. She was also wanted in Woburn District Court for making annoying phone calls, police said.

Globe correspondent John Guilfoil contributed to this report. John Ellement can be reached at ellement@globe.com.