A 71-year-old man in Nevada has been arrested after authorities found seven tigers at his home, which he claimed were for emotional support.
The arrest took place last week in Pahrump, a small desert town about 50 miles west of Las Vegas.
The man, Karl Mitchell, had been under investigation for keeping large wild animals without the required permits. Local deputies, along with a SWAT team, entered the property early in the morning to remove the tigers. According to officials, Mitchell did not cooperate and refused to hand over the keys to the tiger enclosures. He was taken into custody around 8 a.m. after resisting officers.
Authorities say a handgun was found in Mitchell’s bedroom. As a convicted felon, he is not legally allowed to have firearms, which added to the charges he is now facing. He was later released that same day.
The local sheriff, Joe McGill, stated that this situation had been building for years. The sheriff’s office had received multiple tips about Mitchell keeping large cats and even reports of him walking them near his property in the desert. While Mitchell claimed a doctor had approved the tigers for emotional support, the law still requires special permits for exotic animals, and he had none.
In addition to the wildlife violations, Mitchell is also in the process of being evicted from the property. Officials say the investigation into his actions has been ongoing for several months.
The seized tigers are now in the hands of professionals who can care for them properly. Local authorities are continuing to review the case and may pursue further charges.