A 75-year-old Crown Heights woman says she was brutally attacked outside her home Monday morning after an argument with neighbors over dog waste - and the assault was caught on surveillance video.
Linda Scott told News 12 she went to speak with neighbors after asking one of them to clean up after a dog.
She said moments later, another young woman who was with that neighbor attacked her.
“God, I hope I live,” Scott said. “I tried to call 911. I think I had them on the open phone number, you know, but I couldn’t do it because I just was shaking too much.”
The attack happened in front of Scott’s home on President Street, according to police.
Scott’s son, Michael Scott, said he and other family members and neighbors rushed to help after hearing the commotion.
“The woman just came, sped, walked like she walked real fast, came up here and started punching my mother, knocked her to the ground, kicked her in the face,” Michael Scott said. “My mother was bleeding from her mouth and nose. I never seen my mother bleed a day in my life.”
Scott was taken to the hospital after the attack. Her family said she was badly bruised but is expected to make a full recovery and returned home Wednesday.
The family said they have had problems for years with a vacant lot next to their Crown Heights home. They said one of the biggest issues is neighbors allowing their dogs to use the lot and not cleaning up after them.
The family said they filed 311 complaints and that the owner of the lot received a city citation. They said they wanted a fence installed.
Linda Scott acknowledged pouring ammonia in the lot to deter dogs and rats.
“People have the dogs run on it and they poop, and we got to smell it in the backyard,” Michael Scott said. “My mother puts ammonia down to use as a deterrent to keep rats and dogs away because of the smell. All right. It was not used as a weapon.”
Scott said she wanted to share her story because she does not want anyone else to go through something similar.
“Because the young lady had no business beating me like that,” Scott said. “No business beating me or any other older person like that. Anybody. Period.”
Despite her injuries, Scott said she is thankful to still be here.
“I’m gonna God willing still be here for a while. I got some grandchildren to help take care of,” she said.
Police said the woman who attacked Scott ran off.