Delivery Worker Killed by Dogs, Postal Workers Attacked

Kansas City, MO (WorkersCompensation.com) - Authorities are investigating several attacks on delivery and postal workers across the country this week, including one where a delivery driver is thought to have been killed by dogs. 

Ray Childers, Ray County Sheriff, said a man was found dead in a yard in Excelsior Springs. Neighbors reported an Amazon van had been parked outside of a residence for several hours. When deputies responded, they found a man about 50 years old, dead in the yard along with two dogs - a German Shepherd and what officials said looked like a Mastiff. 

Childers said the victim's wounds were consistent with an animal attack. 

"When my deputies arrived on scene they entered a shut gate and the two dogs approached them aggressively," Childers said. 

Childers said one of the deputies shot and injured one of the dogs and both animals ran into the house. Officials said they could hear dogs inside the home and saw blood on the dog door. When the sheriff entered the home, he fatally shot both of the animals. 

“Due to the nature of some of the injuries to the driver, we can’t confirm if the dogs caused the driver's death however we wanted to be safe,” Childers said. 

Childers said the home owners were out of town when the attack occurred. 

“We’re deeply saddened by (Monday's) tragic incident involving a member of our Amazon family and will be providing support to the team and the driver’s loved ones," Lisa Levandowski, an Amazon spokesperson, told USA TODAY. "We are assisting law enforcement in their investigation.” 

This is the second dog attack resulting in a package carrier death in two months. In August, 61-year-old postal worker Pamela Jane Rock in Florida was killed when five dogs attacked her after her vehicle broke down. 

Earlier this year, the U.S. Postal Service said more than 5,400 postal workers were attacked by dogs throughout the country in 2021. 

“We ask all customers to act responsibly by taking safety precautions with their dogs while the mail is being delivered," USPS Employee Safety and Health Awareness Manager Leeann Theriault said in a June news release. 

Theriault said pet owners should restrain their dogs inside the house, away from the door or on a leash when a carrier comes to their home. 

In Chicago, a woman was arrested this week after she attacked a postal carrier, battered a police officer and nearly ran someone over with her car. 

According to a criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court, Christine K. Billups, 35, of Chicago, pushed over a display case inside of a post office in Huntley before pushing a female postal worker to the ground, then grabbing and pulling her hair. 

According to the complaint, she also knocked a cell phone out of the hands of a man at the post office. As she was leaving, she accelerated her car in his direction while he was in the parking lot. The man jumped out of the way of the vehicle to avoid being hit. 

When officers arrived, they had to forcibly remove the woman from the car in order to resist her. During the arrest, Billups kicked one of the officers in the legs. Later, Billups actively resisted being searched and refused to be fingerprinted and photographed. 

Billups bond was set at $75,000. She was being held at the McHenry County jail, charged with aggravated battery on a police officer, two counts of aggravated battery in a public place, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, three counts of resisting a peace officer and disorderly conduct. 

Another man was arrested in Chicago this week for allegedly trying to sexually assault a postal worker in her truck Saturday. 

Officials said Cesar Ramirez, 44, is charged with two counts of attempted aggravated criminal sexual assault, and one count each of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery of a government employee, unlawful restraint, vehicular hijacking, and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. 

Authorities said the postal worker stopped to get gas in the Little Village neighborhood to get gas. When she tried to get back into her USPS truck, Ramirez was already inside and tried to assault her, Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said. 

Police alleged Ramirez pulled her by her hair and directed her to drive to a nearby parking lot or he would kill her. He then told her to move to the back of the van and remove her clothing. As she attempted to escape through the rear of the van, Ramirez beat her and tried to remove her clothing. 

He appeared in bond court on Oct. 27 and was ordered held without bail. 

The letter carrier fled the truck, and was later taken to Saint Anthony Hospital for abrasions on her neck. She was released shortly after. 

"Thankfully, our letter carrier is doing okay, but we note that with any violent crime in the city of Chicago, it could have gone a different way. Thankfully this one didn't, and we are very pleased that we are able to announce a quick apprehension, and quick arrest of the suspect responsible," said U.S. Postal Inspector Spencer Block at the time of the incident.

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