Chris Brown Admits He Avoided Calling 911 After Housekeeper Was Mauled by Guard Dog to Protect His Image

Chris Brown took the witness stand Thursday in a Los Angeles civil trial tied to a dog attack that left his former housekeeper with severe injuries. The singer testified for nearly three hours in Van Nuys as the first witness called in the case. He admitted he never personally dialed 911 once he found Maria Avila bleeding outside his home.

Brown told jurors he feared a 911 recording would leak and spark a media frenzy around his name. He said he instead asked his business manager to make the call. The singer maintained he stayed near Avila and checked that she was breathing before security and paramedics arrived.

What Happened on the Day of the Attack

The attack took place in December 2020 at Brown’s home in Tarzana, California. Avila was taking out the trash when she was mauled by a large guard dog named Hades, a rare and powerful breed sometimes used to protect property. Brown testified he was upstairs preparing to shower when he heard the dog growling outside.

He said he ran downstairs and found Avila lying face down in the driveway. Brown told the court he never touched her but crouched close enough to confirm she was breathing by watching her chest move. He said he then secured the dog and called for his security guard to come help.

Brown described the scene as bloody and said the sight left him shaken. He testified that fresh blood was visible on the concrete, on Avila’s arm, and on her face once she rolled over and began moaning. Under questioning from a second attorney representing Avila’s sister, who also worked as a housekeeper and has her own claim against Brown, the singer admitted there was a significant amount of blood at the scene.

Chris Brown Denies Owning the Dog Involved

On the stand, Brown denied that Hades belonged to him personally. He said the dog was purchased and maintained by his security team rather than kept as a personal pet. According to his testimony, the animal had lived on the property for roughly six to eight months before the attack and was one of several dogs kept there.

Chris Brown explained that his home has experienced repeated break-ins and stalking incidents tied to his celebrity status. He said that history was the reason guard dogs were kept on the grounds. He testified that he personally warned Avila and her sister not to enter the backyard without him present, though Avila’s legal team has disputed whether that warning was ever clearly understood.

Chris Brown’s attorney has acknowledged in court that the singer bears some responsibility for what happened on his property. Brown echoed that point directly during his testimony, saying he is not entirely to blame but accepts that the incident occurred under his roof. He said he keeps a close watch over his own children whenever they are outside because of the dogs on the premises.

Why He Avoided Calling the Police Directly

Avila’s attorney pressed Brown on why he left the situation to his manager rather than handling it himself or staying until first responders arrived. Brown said his manager advised him to step away from the house once help was on the way, telling him it would keep Avila’s care separate from any publicity concerns. He testified that his public image made him wary of how a 911 call or his presence at the scene might be portrayed.

Chris Brown denied Avila’s claim that he fled the scene entirely. He acknowledged, however, that he left the property and drove around for some time, including a stop at a gas station, before learning it was safe to return home. He said he was not aware at that point that the police wanted to speak with him directly.

Brown also testified that he never instructed his security team to preserve surveillance footage from the day of the attack. He said he does not know what ultimately happened to that footage. Avila’s attorneys have suggested the missing video undercuts Brown’s account of how quickly he responded once he heard the dog growling.

Avila’s Injuries and the Case Moving Forward

Avila is seeking roughly $90 million in damages from Brown over injuries she says have left her permanently disfigured. Her lawsuit describes deep lacerations to her face and arm, along with nerve damage and partial vision loss resulting from the attack. She has said in prior statements that she did not see the dog before it struck and only realized something large had grabbed her.

A judge previously ruled that Brown’s 2009 assault conviction involving his ex-girlfriend Rihanna could not be raised during the trial. That decision came after several prospective jurors said during jury selection that they could not remain unbiased given Brown’s past, leading the court to dismiss them regardless of the ruling. An earlier jury panel was also excused after a mistrial was declared over juror misconduct, delaying the start of testimony.

The trial is ongoing, with additional witnesses expected to testify in the coming days. Chris Brown’s legal team has indicated the central dispute is not whether he holds some liability, but how much in damages a jury should ultimately award Avila for her injuries.