The Bethel Police Department has made a mistake. An officer failed to file the appropriate paperwork after an arrest, and the case against a man accused of domestic assault has been dropped, at least temporarily.

Rodney A. Hall of Dixfield was arrested Nov. 27. He was charged with domestic assault, the second such charge he’s faced. On Monday, the Oxford County district attorney’s office was forced to dismiss its case because the police had not filed a complaint with the office.

The problem should have become apparent long before the case was dropped. The arrest was made in November, and it’s now January. That should be plenty of time for law enforcement to get all its ducks in a row.

It hasn’t, and Hall’s case is left in limbo.

According to the DA’s office, the charges could be refiled after the Bethel Police complete the correct paperwork or reinvestigate the incident. The original arresting officer is no longer with the department, which is at least part of the problem.

Regardless, the police should take the necessary steps to have the charges brought, if evidence of the supposed crime can still be collected.

By failing to follow through with an arrest and to communicate with prosecutors, the police department has created two problems: A man accused of a crime is left twisting in the wind, unsure of whether he will face criminal charges or a trial, and a woman who says she has been abused has to wait and watch to see if justice will be served.

Haste would be in the best interest of accused and accuser. The police should settle this issue as soon as possible.