SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) -
A 19-year-old woman who owns two pitbulls that escaped her minivan and attacked children in a neighborhood park on June 21 will not be charged, according to Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police.
Police criminal investigators said they have presented their findings to the Chatham County District Attorney's Office and have been advised that no Georgia statute applies to the case, according to SCMPD.
Investigations confirmed that the two dogs escaped when an 11-year-old sister of the woman opened a car door and was unable to close it before the two family pets pushed their way out, according to police.
The dogs then went into Treat Park at Treat Avenue and Gable Street. One latched onto 7-year-old Javon Roberson as he fled from a swing to join children who were chased to the top of a jungle gym set. She bit the child's face and the larger dog tried to attack the other children. Neighbors used bricks to beat the first dog unconscious and force her to release her hold on the child. They chased the other dog away with bricks and a pistol.
Police said the dogs' owner went to detectives two days later to report that the dogs had escaped while she was out of the car, opening a gate to place the dogs in a relative's yard.
Det. Kenneth Whitcomb said the veterinarian who inspected the dogs after the attack said he found neither evidence that they had been involved in fighting before nor any indication of aggression or abuse, according to police.
The woman said she and her sister had searched for the dogs with leashes in hand until they heard the shooting and commotion and they left, according to police. Neighbors in near the area of the attack had also told people that had seen "two young girls" walking through the neighborhood with leashes.
Roberson remains in critical condition since the attack at Memorial University Medical Center, where he has undergone several surgeries to repair injuries to his face.
The smaller dog was euthanized by SCMPD animal control officers the night of the attack. The other dog is being held for observation. Its fate has not been finalized.
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