K-9 who bit woman in incident at Mayfair Mall will be returning to work, mall's owner says

Yahoo

20-05-2025

A Mayfair Mall security K-9 who bit a 19-year-old Milwaukee woman following a fight at the shopping center in late March will return to the mall amid a civil lawsuit against the mall, its owner, its security provider and the dog's handler.
Lindsay Kahn, a spokesperson with Brookfield Properties, which owns Mayfair Mall, confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Blue, the K-9 involved in the incident, is cleared to return to work May 21 after completing and passing requirements by the state and his Indiana training facility.
"Following the unfortunate, isolated incident, Blue was immediately quarantined for two weeks at his training facility, Vohne Liche Kennels in Indiana," Brookfield Properties said in an emailed statement.
"It has been unanimously concluded that Blue and his handler are prepared to serve at Mayfair Mall," the statement continued. "We are grateful to the authorities for their expertise, professionalism and leadership over the last two months."
The woman who was bitten in the incident, Amirah Walls filed a civil lawsuit April 7 in Milwaukee County via her attorney B'Ivory LaMarr. The suit alleges that Mayfair Mall, its owner Brookfield Properties, security company Andy Frain Services and security K-9 handler Malcolm D. Ingram were negligent and failed to follow the proper reporting procedures after she was bitten by the dog.
Neither Andy Frain Services nor Ingram could be reached for comment on May 20.
LaMarr called the reinstatement of the dog "irresponsible and insulting to the community," in an emailed statement to the Journal Sentinel.
"Rather than treating this incident with the seriousness it deserves, the mall failed to inform local authorities of the bite at the time of the incident, quickly opted to ship the dog out of state under the guise of an undisclosed 'test,' and declared the dog safe — all without transparency or independent oversight," LaMarr said.
"My client is still healing, and yet the mall has made it clear that its image matters more than accountability," he said.
LaMarr previously told the Journal Sentinel that he and his client filed the lawsuit sooner than usual after police reports showed Ingram was terminated less than 24 hours after the incident and the K-9 who bit Walls was moved out of state. LaMarr believes that indicates the company didn't do a proper investigation.
It is not clear if Ingram is the handler who will return to the mall with Blue. According to police reports, Ingram told police that he was let go from Andy Frain Services following the incident.
The Wauwatosa Police Department did not immediately respond to a reporter's request for comment.
Brookfield Properties said in its statement that Mayfair Mall had been working closely over the last two months with Andy Frain Services, the security vendor, and the Wauwatosa Police Department to ensure that Blue is able to return to service.
"Our canine program has been a vital part of our comprehensive security program that is an effective deterrent to crime and creating a safe environment for our shopping center community," the statement said.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Contact reporter Bridget Fogarty at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: K-9 who bit woman at Mayfair Mall will return to work at the mall