Bear whose owner used to stage bear wrestling shows attacks, severely injures man in Ohio

Bear whose Ohio owner exhibited them attacks man

COLUMBIA STATION, Ohio — Authorities say a bear whose owner once staged bear wrestling shows severely injured a 24-year-old man in Ohio.

The Lorain County sheriff’s office says the injured man was taken to a Cleveland hospital after Thursday evening’s attack in Columbia Station. He has not been identified. Deputies would give no more details.

Deputies say the bear was contained in its cage.

The sheriff’s office says the bear is owned by Sam Mazzola, who used to offer people the chance to wrestle a black bear at a Cleveland expo. A rescue squad took Mazzola from the scene Thursday with an unspecified medical problem.

A hospital spokeswoman said Friday that without a name she could not give the victim’s condition.