Newport News Police have made an arrest in connection with a dog biting incident that left four people hospitalized Monday evening.
The owner of the two dogs, Robert Keith Packer, was arrested Thursday afternoon at his home on Barbour Drive, in the city’s Hidenwood section near Christopher Newport University.
The city’s Animal Welfare Department seized the two dogs believed to be involved in the incident, as well as one other adult dog, six 11-week old puppies, four live rabbits and one deceased rabbit at the property.
Packer became well known after Jan. 6, 2021, riots in Washington. Photographs of Packer wearing a “Camp Auschwitz” sweatshirt inside the U.S. Capitol building went viral , referring to the World Wart II Nazi death camp in Poland.
Packer’s black shirt featured the death camp’s name, a skull and the notorious inscription outside the camp’s gates: “Work Brings Freedom.” The word “staff” was on the back.
Packer was arrested a week after the riot. He pleaded guilty in 2022 to illegal demonstrating in the capital and was sentenced to 75 days behind bars.
The day President Trump returned to office, he was pardoned along with roughly 1,500 people charged or convicted in the riot.
On Thursday, Packer was charged with felony animal attack resulting from the owner’s disregard for human life, three counts of dogs running at large, and two counts of failure to pay city dog tax.
Robert Keith Packer’s booking photo on Sep. 4, 2025. (Courtesy of Kelly King/Newport News Police Department)
Around 8 p.m. Monday, police responded to a 911 call of loose aggressive dogs in the block of Barbour Drive. They arrived to find two white or tan Dogos Argentinos in the area and took them into custody.
An officer shot at one of the dogs but missed, the Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot reported Tuesday.
All four victims were taken to a local hospital with a range of injuries.
Packer also is facing a separate court case for an attack by two of his dogs earlier this year. On May 19, according to a criminal complaint, two white or tan aggressive dogs attacked Lindy Harper and her yellow lab, Hogan, on their early morning walk at the intersection of Madison Lane S. and Goodwin Road.
Harper said one of the dogs saw them and charged, latching onto Hogan. Harper was pulled to the ground as she held onto Hogan’s leash. She attempted to pull him free, but was unable.
“It was a blur, I didn’t want to let go [of Hogan],” said Harper. “I just started screaming “No,” and “Help,” hoping someone would hear me.”
Five neighbors came to her aid. The dogs weren’t wearing collars, so the neighbor took the leash from Harper and started beating the dog holding Hogan with it until it gave up and let go. The dogs then ran off.
Harper sustained bite marks on her arms, and Hogan had serious bite injuries to his neck, ribcage, shoulders and back. Both have recovered.
Packer was charged with one misdemeanor count in that case. A hearing in that matter is scheduled for later this month.
Emma Rose Brown, 757-805-2256, emma.brown@virginiamedia.com
