Archie Hilliard, who will undergo skin graft surgery Friday to repair his ankle, recounted his struggle with the violent pit bull during an interview Thursday in his room at Norwalk Hospital.
“The only thing running through my mind was: ‘This dog is serious,’” he said.
Samantha, a two-year-old white and tan pit bull, was quarantined after attacking Hilliard on Monday, and the dog was euthanized Tuesday night.
Hilliard’s left ankle was chewed to the bone during the attack, but doctors say he suffered no broken bones or nerve injuries. His left arm and leg were also injured during the attack.
Police told the media that Nicole Hoyt, 33, was walking two pit bulls, including Samantha, when Samantha mauled Hilliard.
However, Hilliard said the dogs wandered out of their home, unbeknownst to Hoyt,
Hilliard said he was walking on Haviland Place toward Monroe Street when he saw a small dog wander out of the residence at 5 Haviland Place. He thought it was odd that the dog did not have its owner with him. Seconds after the small dog wandered out of the Haviland Place residence, Samantha walked out of the same home and headed toward Hilliard.
“The big one (Samantha) came out of the door in attack mode,” he said. “Everything happened so fast.”
Samantha jumped toward Hilliard, who raised his left forearm to try and protect his neck and face.
“All I could see is a pink tongue and teeth,” he said.
The dog bit Hilliard’s arm, and Hilliard yelled for the owner to get her dog.
Samantha eventually gave up on trying to bite Hilliard’s face and began to bite his leg. Hilliard grabbed onto the fence at 2 Haviland Place to try and hoist himself up, but the fence broke.
“I can laugh about that now,” he said.
Despite the best efforts of the residents, the attack continued.
Nicole Hoyt eventually came outside and apologized profusely while Hilliard was being attacked. She did nothing to stop the attack, according to Hilliard.
Police rushed to the scene. In order to subdue the dog, three officers had to deploy their Tasers.
However, Samantha was only fazed briefly, and the dog stood up and walked back home, ripping the Taser darts out of its skin.
“I was just in shock,” he said. “I was scared to even move.”
While police were collecting witness statements, Samantha walked back out of the Haviland Place residence with a large piece of Hilliard’s flesh hanging out of its mouth. The dog again ran toward Hilliard, and Hilliard said he yelled to alert police.
The dog was Tasered again and finally subdued.
Nicole Hoyt, 33, of 5 Hanford Place, was cited for allowing a dog to roam and owning or harboring a dog to create a nuisance.
PIT BULL HAD PREVIOUSLY ATTACKED ITS OTHER OWNER
Monday was not the first time Samantha attacked a person, police say.
Samantha was quarantined from July 8 to July 22, because the dog attacked her owner, police said.
In May, Samantha attacked Vamond Elmore, 35, and Elmore stabbed the dog to get away from its grip, police said. The Pit Bull also bit Nicole Hoyt.
Hilliard said authorities should have taken the proper actions to keep the dog off the streets.
“I blame them,” he said. “They were the ones that gave the dogs back to the girl. If they had done their jobs, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Francis DiScala, Hilliard’s attorney, said Hilliard is reviewing his legal options.
In the near future, Hilliard has a simple goal.
“I just hope to be able to walk again,” he said.
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Norwalk police blotter - May 11, 2012
• Nicole Hoyt, 32, of 56 North Bridge, was charged with failure to appear in court and failure to respond to an infraction. She was held on $5,250 bond and given a court date of May 18.
Norwalk Police Blotter - June 27, 2012
• Nicole Hoyt, 33, of 5 Hanford Place, was charged with criminal violation of a protective order, failure to appear in court. She was held on $31,000 bond and given a court date of July 6.
(The Hour - August 9, 2012)
