A Nevada man has been arrested after seven tigers were seized from his property, which he claimed were his emotional support animals.
On Wednesday morning, authorities raided the home of 71-year-old Karl Mitchell in Pahrump, where he was arrested for resisting a peace officer.
Nye County officials said Mitchell did not possess the required special conditions animal permit and had a long history of violations.
Sheriff Joe McGill told local media that Mitchell had allegedly been seen walking the tigers off-lead on and off the property, even in the desert, and had shared social media posts showing people interacting with the big cats.
Mitchell insisted he needed no permits since the animals were his emotional support companions and posed no threat to the public.
However, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, tigers are not recognised as legitimate emotional support animals.
He also claimed he had rescued the tigers from Joe Exotic, the former Oklahoma zookeeper featured in Netflix’s Tiger King series, who is currently serving a 21-year prison sentence for a murder-for-hire plot.
During the raid, Mitchell initially cooperated with deputies but then refused to provide keys to the tiger enclosures, preventing wildlife workers and a veterinarian from conducting inspections.
All seven tigers were eventually seized and will remain at an undisclosed sanctuary until further notice.
Authorities said two of the cats appeared underweight, and some water containers were covered in algae.
Court records show ongoing legal battles between Mitchell and Nye County since at least 2020, including Mitchell’s lawsuit claiming the county had interfered with his personal life and sought over $1 million in damages.
In addition to resisting arrest, Mitchell was charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person due to a previous felony conviction.
He was released later that day on $6,000 bail. More charges could follow. Mitchell is due in court on 15 May.
