Postal Workers Attacked in Separate Incidents

Safety at Work

Newberry, SC (WorkersCompensation.com) – A U.S. Postal Service worker is recovering after being attacked by a dog while delivering the mail.

According to the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, the attack happened Oct. 11. Authorities said the letter carrier was approaching a home when a dog, described by police as a black and white pit bull, attacked her.

Officials said the postal worker tried to return to her vehicle, but the dog followed and continued the attack. The sheriff’s office said Newberry Police Department officers arrived at the scene, sprayed the dog and helped the letter carrier after calling EMS. The worker suffered injuries to her upper and lower body and was airlifted to a hospital for treatment.

“I guess if there’s anything that could be blessed, it’s that they didn’t get to her head,” said Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster.

Newberry County Animal Control was also called to the scene. Officers with animal control took the dog to the shelter where it was quarantined. Authorities said the owner allowed the dog to be quarantined.

The USPS said it was working with animal control, the Newberry Police Department and the sheriff’s office to investigate the attack and determine whether it warrants charges for the dog’s owner.

In Philadelphia, a postal worker hit record on her phone when a man attacked her for blocking the road.

According to police reports, Fabian Colon, 25, was arrested and faces multiple charges following an incident on Oct. 11. In that instance, a postal worker was making deliveries on Horrocks Street and had to temporarily block the road while she delivered a package.

Colon approached the worker about the mail truck blocking the road, reports said. After their initial interaction, Colon tried to move the mail truck himself. The 23-year-old postal worker then took the keys to the truck and started to record the interaction. Police said Colon then physically assaulted the letter carrier and grabbed her phone.

The letter carrier’s phone recorded the attack. Neighbors near the incident on the one-way road also filmed the event. One of those videos was posted to social media, officials said and is now part of their investigation.

Neighbors said the incident should never have happened.

"Wow, that's intense," Laurente Rice, who lives in the neighborhood, told media outlets. "It's a shame in this world today. You can't even do your job."

Victoria Rodriguez, who also lives on the block, said postal workers often have to double-park on the narrow street to make quick deliveries.

"Take a breath," Rodriguez said. "You don't have to get to where you need to go just this instant."

The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment. The U.S. Postal inspector said they were aware of the incident and are cooperating with police in the investigation.

Colon was charged with aggravated assault, robbery, theft by unlawful taking, simple assault, and related offenses. He was able to make bail and will have his initial court date on Oct. 21, officials said.

"Wow, that's intense," said Laurente Rice. "It's a shame in this world today. You can't even do your job."

And in Gresham, Ore., police have arrested a suspect in connection with an incident where a letter carrier was punched multiple times while delivering the mail.

Officials said the suspected attacker was experiencing a mental health crisis when the incident occurred.

The suspect was arrested in early September for the assault. Police said the suspect approached the on-duty mail carrier, punched them several times, and then ran away. The letter carrier suffered only superficial injuries, the police said.

Officers later found the suspect wandering around in a parking lot. The suspect was carrying what appeared to be a realistic-looking toy gun. However, police were able to detain the suspect without incident.

The suspect was then taken to a hospital for evaluation and cited for harassment, officers said.

According to a May report from the U.S. General Accountability Office, attacks and other serious crimes against postal workers are on the rise. In 2017, the office noted only 656 crimes or attacks. By 2023, that number had almost doubled to 1,198.

In addition, the U.S. Postal Service noted in 2023, there were more than 5,800 dog attacks against postal workers in the U.S., but in 2024, that number rose to over 6,000. The average insurance claim for a dog attack exceeds $64,000, the USPS said, for which the dog owner is responsible.

"When a postal employee suffers an injury, the owner could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs, and pain and suffering for the employee," USPS said in its May 30, 2025 press release. 

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