Dog Owner Arrested In Attacks At Hoboken ShopRite And Secaucus Hotel

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — A Hoboken man has been charged with aggravated assault in two dog attacks last week that injured four people and a pet bernedoodle.

Robert Braxton, 42, of Hoboken was arrested on Tuesday and charged with second-degree aggravated assault, said Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller and Hoboken Police Chief Steven Aguiar in a joint statement.

Last week, three cane corso (Italian mastiff) dogs owned by Braxton attacked a man and woman in the parking lot of the Secaucus Red Roof Inn, sending both to the hospital, Miller told Patch. Children were present at the time of the attack. READ MORE: Kids Were Present During Secaucus Dog Attack, Police Say

Then, last Wednesday, three dogs owned by Braxton attacked two dog walkers in the ShopRite parking lot in Hoboken, officials said. Both dog walkers sprained their wrists as they tried to control the eight dogs they were walking, Hoboken officials said.

A pet bernadoodle named Frank, who was among the dogs being walked, was attacked and needed surgery. A fundraiser has been set up for him and for one of the dogwalkers.

Photo Courtesy Abby Swiatkowski

The Charges

In connection with the Secaucus attack, Braxton was also charged with two third-degree counts of endangering another person, police said.

For the Hoboken attack, Braxton was charged with two counts of simple assault, animal cruelty, and risk of widespread injury.

Three Cane Corso dogs were seized by the Secaucus Police Department after they obtained a court order, police said. They're currently at the Secaucus Animal Shelter.

Separately, Braxton was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday related to the dogs' seizure, and that hearing was moved to March 3.

Braxton was taken to the Hudson County jail to await his first court appearance, police said.

Police said that the charges were filed after consulting with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.

Victims Recover

Miller had told Patch that the three dogs at the Red Roof Inn "pretty viciously" attacked the pair at the hotel, and that at least one of the dogs involved in that assault was involved in the Wednesday incident in Hoboken.

The owner has at least six cane corsos and was believed to be a breeder, he said.

The man who was attacked was treated at Hackensack Medical Center and released, Miller said. The woman underwent leg surgery.

Hoboken public safety spokeswoman Marci Rubin said Friday that the Jersey City Animal Control Officer — who's contracted by the city of Hoboken — had issued three summonses to the owner for having potentially dangerous dogs.

He had already been issued a summons last year for violating an August 2025 consent order from the Hoboken Health Division, which stated that his had to be muzzled and leashed whenever they were out in public, Rubin said.

Abby Swiatkowski, the owner of Frank, the injured bernedoodle, told Patch on Friday that her GoFundMe fundraiser is for both her dog's recovery and for Jordy, the dog walker she credits with saving Frank's life.

"We want to stress the importance of leashing dogs and being a responsible owner," she told Patch.

She clarified that the fundraiser will help with Frank's drain removal, more surgeries, medication, and "socialization rehab," and with Jordy's "medical cost and bravery."

The fundraiser, "Help Frank Heal After Vicious Attack," now has a cap of $30,000. It had amassed $28,600 in donations as of Wednesday. See it here.

READ MORE: Dogs Attack Two Dog Walkers, Injure Pet Bernedoodle In Hoboken