Police arrested and charged a 52-year-old Pahoa man after a dog attack that late Saturday afternoon that left a 32-year-old woman hospitalized and her 52-year-old mother injured.
According to police, the 32-year-old woman and her dog were on her property on Bamboo Drive in Ainaloa Estates subdivision when a neighbor’s dog attacked her at about 4:40 p.m..
The victim’s mother reported that she was also bitten, possibly by another unknown dog, on her arm and shoulder area while trying to fend off the dog during the attack.
The 32-year-old woman suffered bite wounds resulting in fractures to both arms, multiple puncture wounds, and lacerations. She was taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of her injuries. At last report, she remained hospitalized in stable condition.
Following the incident, a bystander successfully secured the dog to a post, enabling the county Animal Control officers to take custody of the dog and transfer it to a secure location.
The property where the dog came from has a partially fenced yard,. Police say the dog wasn’t secured, and was able to get beyond the property. Prior to this incident, authorities reported no previous reports or incidents involving the dogs being loose in the area of where the attack occurred.
On Sunday, the dog’s owner, Frederick Kassebeer, turned himself in at the Pahoa Police Station. He was charged with permitting a dog to stray and negligent failure to control a dangerous dog.
Kassebeer was released after posting $2,000 bail was set at $2,000, and he was released after posting bail.
Police ask anyone with information on this incident to call the department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.