HAMTRAMCK — On Wednesday, the Arab-American Civil Rights League (ACRL) along with the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) held a press conference to discuss a severe case involving an elderly Arab woman who was viciously mauled by a neighbor’s dog in Hamtramck. The woman, who suffered from extensive injuries that included losing a finger from her right hand, is claiming that the Wayne County Prosecution team has dropped the ball on the case, by not yet charging the dog owner, Hamtramck Police Officer Michael Stout. 

Qalfah Samaha, a 78-year old woman, was viciously mulled by a Hamtramck Police officer’s residential dog. She lost a finger and suffered arm injuries

Qaflah Samaha, a 78-year-old woman, was walking on the side of an alley near her house on the way to a relative’s home on April 21, when she claims one of Officer Stout’s three dogs jumped over the fence and viciously attacked her.  The dog that attacked Samaha is a Cane Corso, a breed-type that is generally larger and more aggressive than a Pit-Bull. 

During the attack, the dog ripped a finger and caused severe damage to both of her arms.  Although she was able to survive the incident, Samaha spent days in the intensive care unit, where she had to endure multiple surgeries. The cause of damage from the attack was so severe that doctors were unsuccessful in reattaching her finger, leaving her permanently disabled.

While the Michigan State Police investigated potential criminal charges against Officer Stout, he was only placed on administrative suspension following the attack.  Wayne County prosecutors have declined to bring forward any charges against him, leading the ACRL and CAIR-MI to believe that their action is a slap in the face to the justice system.

“The law is clear on this issue. When your dog gets out and attacks someone, you are held directly responsible. Why the prosecutors have not charged the man with misdemeanors or felonies is puzzling,” stated ACRL Founder, Nabih Ayad. 

Samaha, who isn’t fluent in English, had her son Wada at her side to translate her words during the press conference.

“My mother strongly believes that the only reason why he wasn’t charged was because he was a police officer. They are allowing him to get away with it,” stated Wada.

Samaha with attorney Ayad during the press conference.

The prosecutors however argue that there could be some doubts as to whether or not the dog jumped over the fence, and whether Samaha had placed her hands inside of Officer’s Stout’s property,  which could’ve intimidated the dog. They believe these doubts justify not charging  Officer Stout. The civil rights groups, however, are appalled by this conclusion.

 “It’s very obvious she was just walking by. There was absolutely no trespassing involved.  These are three vicious dogs in the yard and the fence is over six feet tall. What in the world would make her want to put her hand over the fence. It’s against her religion to even touch a dog,” Ayad stated. 

Photographs also point out that there is a shed located inside the back yard next to one side of the fence that is believed to be about four feet in height. Samaha says the dog jumped on the shed and then was able to jump over the fence to attack her. 

Officer Stout, who is believed to have witnessed the attack from his window inside his home, ran out of the house and was able to stop the dog, but this was only after she had already suffered drastic injuries. The dog was placed back in the yard before police arrived to the scene, according to the ACRL and CAIR-MI. 

The type of dog that attacked Samaha.

The civil rights groups point the finger at Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, claiming she has been negligent towards the case. They also point out that this isn’t the first time Worthy has mishandled a case involving Arab Americans. They state that earlier this year, she was over-zealous when she charged four under age Arab minors during a football game in Dearborn with felonious assault. It took community outcry and reaching out to the court judge to eventually drop those initial charges. 

“She is not handing out charges fairly when it comes to the Arab American community. She brings charges against four individual minors in a football game, yet she doesn’t charge this man,” stated Ayad. “There are clear violations in this case with both city and state laws. This community is left with no answers but to feel that they are receiving different treatment than others.” 

Despite investigators not being able to prove that the dog jumped over the fence without a reasonable doubt, there is no doubt that Samaha was in a life-threatening situation as evidenced by her physical injuries.  To this day, along with one less finger, she still has a rod in her arm as well as bruises and bite marks from the attack. The ACRL argues that there is still probable cause to bring forth charges in this case. As far as the inconsistencies regarding whether or not the dog ever left the backward, the ACRL believes it should be up to a jury to decide that.

The dog that attacked Samaha is estimated to have been around 100 lbs. Samaha herself is only 5’1 and weighs about 100 lbs as well. The dog is still in custody with Michigan Sate Police. Samaha says she is surprised that they have not yet put the dog down, but more importantly she wants proper charges to be brought against Officer Stout. 

Rashid Baydoun, the Executive Director of the ACRL, is currently drafting a letter asking Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette to intervene and press charges against Officer Stout, since Prosecutor Worthy has yet to do so.