A 68-year-old man has been arrested in Lancaster in connection with an incident involving his dogs that resulted in the drowning of a 12-year-old boy and injuries to a young girl in Kern County. Authorities took Kenneth Dobbins into custody on Thursday following a tip from a local resident who spotted him near their workplace in Lancaster.

The incident occurred on June 18 at Central Park in California City, when Dobbins’ dogs attacked the two children. According to police, the 12-year-old boy, later identified as Fernando Torres Moreno, fled into a lake to escape the dogs but drowned. Responding officers found the boy submerged and performed CPR before paramedics arrived. He was initially taken to Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley and then transferred to Children’s Hospital in Bakersfield, where he later died from his injuries. The girl, who sustained serious but non-life-threatening bite wounds, was treated and released from Antelope Valley Medical Center.

Following the attack, California City police spoke with Dobbins at the Lakeshore Condominiums, where he admitted to being at the park with his three dogs. Officers documented his clothing and the animals but did not arrest him at that time, as the full extent of the children’s injuries was not yet known. Later investigations confirmed that Dobbins’ dogs were responsible for the attack.

On Tuesday, police visited Dobbins’ residence and discovered he had fled. One of the dogs involved was found and seized in Los Angeles County, while authorities continue searching for the remaining dogs. Law enforcement departments including the California City Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department collaborated on locating and detaining Dobbins.

Kern County jail records indicate that Dobbins is being held on charges of involuntary manslaughter and negligent ownership of a mischievous animal causing serious bodily injury or death, with bail set at $40,000. He is currently housed at the Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility in Kern County.

A GoFundMe campaign established by Torres Moreno’s family has raised over $15,000 to support them in the aftermath of the tragedy. The family described Fernando as a boy who was excited to spend the day at the park with friends and family before the fatal incident occurred. He is survived by his parents and four siblings. Authorities continue their investigation and efforts to locate the remaining animals involved in the attack.