MARYLAND -- A Fruitland woman was taken into custody by police after a pit bull in her care attacked another woman, according to court documents.
Keonta Anthony Quailes, a 21-year-old Morris Street resident, has been charged with second-degree assault and reckless endangerment.
She is being held at the Wicomico County Detention Center on $25,000 bond following a District Court bail review hearing on Thursday.
The most serious of the charges, second-degree assault, is a felony and carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years under Maryland law.
The charges stem from an incident in August when Fruitland officers were dispatched to Morris Street for a reported dog bite. When officers arrived, the resident told police the dog, which was being kept at her home, had bitten another woman.
Quailes does not own the dog. She was caring for it for an individual who was incarcerated at the time, according to police.
The victim was treated at Peninsula Regional Medical Center for her injuries.
According to charging documents, the victim reported she walked up the driveway to the back door of the house on Morris Street when she saw Quailes, also known as "Tae," and a large pit bull known as Game.
"(The victim) stated that Game was not on a leash or chain," wrote Officer James Kerr, of the Fruitland Police Department, in charging documents. (The victim) stated that she heard Quailes say 'get her.' (The victim) stated that Game immediately charged at her and attacked her."
Quailes allegedly continued to yell at the dog, who continued to bite the victim's arms and legs, according to police.
The victim alleged Quailes allowed the dog to attack her until a witness told her to pull the dog off.
The victim was unaware of a motive in the attack.
She suffered puncture wounds on her left ankle and injuries on the front and back of her left leg, according to police.
Quailes denied the allegations of the intentional attack during a phone interview with police, according to charging documents.
"Quailes stated to McLeod (of the Fruitland Police Department) that Game had 'popped' his collar and charged at (the victim)."
A District Court trial for Quailes has been scheduled for early March.
(Delmarva Now - Dec 30, 2011)
