Features

California pit bull owner waives formal extradition in Nevada

By Lisa Snedeker The Associated Press
Thursday March 28, 2002

LAS VEGAS — A California man whose pit bulls allegedly attacked a neighbor was being returned to Fresno County, where he faces animal neglect charges, authorities said Wednesday. 

Michael Bryan, 46, of Squaw Valley, waived formal extradition when he appeared before Nye County Justice of the Peace Tina Brisebill in Pahrump, Nev., about 60 miles west of Las Vegas. 

“Four receiving officers arrived to pick him up at 11:45 a.m.,” deputy court clerk Lynn Ring said of the Fresno County authorities who were transporting Bryan. 

Bail remained at $100,000 on felony charges of animal neglect, Ring said. 

Bryan was arrested late Saturday at a Pahrump home, 450 miles away from Squaw Valley, Nye County Undersheriff Bill Weldon said. 

Four dogs were found in his custody, but it’s unclear if they are among the five animals that allegedly mauled Jorge Elizondo on March 2. 

Elizondo, 36, suffered more then 30 puncture wounds from head to toe when the dogs attacked him on Squaw Valley Road near his home. The dogs scattered when a neighbor fired a rifle at them, a sheriff’s report said. 

The pit bulls remained in the Nye County Animal Shelter on Wednesday. 

Fresno County animal control officers were scheduled Thursday to pick up the dogs that have been quarantined since Bryan’s arrest to return them to Squaw Valley, 25 miles east of Fresno, authorities said. 

Under Nevada law, dogs involved in bite cases must be quarantined. 

A warrant was issued for Bryan’s arrest Friday, almost three weeks after he took his dogs and left town, Fresno authorities said. 

Bryan initially was arrested for obstructing a public officer but was released, authorities said.