ROCKLAND — The family of an 87-year-old woman who say she was attacked by a dangerous dog while walking on Cobb Road in Camden in December 2017 issued a statement through their attorney “expressing extreme displeasure” with the state that it will not be prosecuting the case.

On March 23, the District Attorney’s office dismissed the charge of keeping a dangerous dog against Beth Kwiatkowski, 54, of Camden, because of insufficient evidence. The Assistant District Attorney said that there were no witnesses to the event and due to the victim’s injuries, she had difficulty remembering what, if anything had happened.

Additionally, there was no medical evidence to positively confirm her injuries were inflicted by a dog, according to the District Attorney.

Kwiatkowski had been issued two separate summons Dec. 12 for keeping a dangerous dog and having a dog at large by Camden Animal Control Officer Mark Bennett.

Attorney Sarah Gilbert of Camden issued a statement April 4 from Mary Dearborn, the victim, and her family, in response to the dismissal by the District Attorney’s Office.

“The family of Mary Dearborn wishes to express its extreme displeasure with the handing of the dangerous dog complaint by the District Attorney’s office. Mary has lived on Cobb road for 85 years. Her family has lived there longer than that. With this dangerous pit bull continuing to live freely at the residence on Sweet Brier Drive, Mary will no longer be safe walking on Cobb Road and will be forced to stay inside,” according to the statement.  

“The family believes that no one is safe walking in that area. There is overwhelming evidence to support a conviction for this dangerous dog charge, which requires only a finding that it was more likely than not Mary was threatened or felt fear of imminent bodily injury from the pit bull. Such evidence includes the dog owner initially telling police that she saw her dog jump on Mary that day, the dog’s records indicating people should not even make eye contact with the dog due to its aggressive behaviors and need to be muzzled at all times, statements from neighbors that everyone in the neighborhood was already scared of that dog, Mary’s statement that the dog was running and lunging toward her, only a few feet away, as she screamed out for help in the road, and the extreme wound patterns on Mary’s head resulting in her being in a coma for almost a month. The family would like an explanation and believes that the community deserves an explanation as well, as to why the state is not pursuing this civil charge and seeking to have this dog euthanized,” according to the statement. 

The response concluded by stating “the family believes our community should come together to protect its most vulnerable and demand that attacks such as this one be taken seriously by law enforcement. Mary deserves justice and deserves to feel safe in her community.” 

According to the court document, a dispositional conference is scheduled for April 12 in Knox County Unified Court to address the second charge of allowing a dog at large against Kwiatkowski.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com