A man's late-night confrontation with an alleged dog thief turned dangerous in Victorville on Monday, as the suspect reportedly brandished a gun when faced by the pet owner. The incident, which police are now calling an assault with a deadly weapon, occurred on the 13000 block of Avenal Street.
Authorities say Maxwell Nelson, a 26-year-old resident of Phelan, was caught in the act of attempting to steal a dog from a local home. During the dispute that unfolded shortly after midnight, when the dog's owner caught him red-handed, Nelson turned what was a property crime into a violent encounter by pointing a pistol at the individual confronting him.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner's Department reports that deputies responded to the scene around 12:08 a.m. After the heated verbal altercation, Nelson was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, as indicated in a public notice by the department.
Held at the High Desert Detention Center, the failed dog-snatching suspect awaits his fate on a bail set at $140,000.00. Sheriff-Coroner Shannon D. Dicus urges anyone with additional information on the case to contact the Victorville Sheriff's Station or the We-Tip Hotline for those wishing to offer their tips while remaining anonymous.
