Colo. man, on the run after allegedly launching pit bull attack on newlywed couple, police say

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Joel Neveraz is accused of launching a pit bull attack on a newlywed couple just hours after their wedding

/ CBS Denver/Denver Police

(CBS) DENVER - Police are looking for Joel Nevarez after he allegedly launched a pit bull attack on a newlywed couple , just hours after their wedding ceremony Saturday, CBS Denver reports.

"At one point and time he was a best friend," said bride Brittany Schults. "Someone I thought I could trust, someone I thought would never let anyone hurt me."

Nevarez, a wedding guest, allegedly got upset about something at Schults' wedding in north Denver. He left and came back later with his pit bull.

"I begged and pleaded with him, 'Just stop. Bring the dog home, it's my wedding. Don't do this, don't do this,' " Schults said.

Shults told CBS Denver that Nevarez suffers from several mental illnesses, and at one point spent time at a mental hospital. When he came back to the party following the wedding, he allegedly told his dog to attack Shults.

"He said, 'Sic her. Sic her, Skylo,' " Shults said. "The dog dragged me to the ground and shook me in its mouth ... Joel stood there with the leash in hand laughing, laughing that the dog was biting me."

The dog also attacked Shults' new husband. Nevarez then started punching Shults with brass knuckles, according to a police report.

The dog is under quarantine at the Denver Animal Shelter while Nevarez is reportedly on the run. Friends think he may have headed to Mexico to hide with family members.

Police said Nevarez should be considered dangerous, and anyone with information about his wherebouts is asked to contact authorities.

"It was terrible. It made a beautiful party into something I'll never forget," Shults said. "I'm just hoping no one else gets hurt the way I did or worse."

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by morris2196 August 20, 2012 10:35 AM EDT: The use of brass knuckles indicates that he was not thinking clearly; there are several low-teck weapons that are more effective (e.g., expandable batons, knives).; Reply to this comment

by treehgr07 August 18, 2012 2:19 PM EDT

who just happens to have a pair of brass knuckles?

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by newsjunkie_56 August 18, 2012 3:14 PM EDT: Ya, that too. I mean, back in my youth, as in 40 years ago, you could buy brass knuckles in a lot of different places. Places that also sold machettes (sp?) boot knives, hooka pipes and other drug paraphenalia....some of very high quality....and hard core porn mags in the back of the shop. But TODAY???? Yes, the brass knuckles would, I think be a sure give away that this individual was/is seriously disturbed and seriously dangerous. And he's on the run. As I alluded to....ya just can't make this stuff up. Better than fiction.


by newsjunkie_56 August 18, 2012 2:13 PM EDT: Not meaning to downplay the horrific nature of this but ya know.....this is way stranger than fiction. As the old saying goes, choose your friends carefully. We ALL have hang-ups, problems, phobias and disorders of one sort or another, BUT....based on this dudes track record, he is not someone I personally would ever invite to my residence and quite frankly I'd take whatever measures necessary to avoid him. As a final note....and yes I am being very judgemental here....but just look at his pic.....I mean, he even LOOKS crazy! True ya can't always tell a book by it's cover but....and yes, I'm old school...I'll admit it with no shame....if it looks like a hyena, smells like a hyena and barks like a hyena, odds are pretty good it really is a hyena.; Reply to this comment

by RichZubaty August 18, 2012 1:53 PM EDT

If insane people can own pit bulls then it's time to ban pit bulls. In fact, I think ALL dog owners should be required to take a course in the care and handling of canines before they can have one. I'm sick of having to call animal control a couple times every week just to shut up the barking dogs and puppies in my own little neighborhood.

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by chef_tim_w August 18, 2012 5:11 PM EDT: Last time I checked denver does have a Pit Bull ban. How's that working out for you Denver?

by arkajun-2009 August 18, 2012 12:56 PM EDT

Any bets this is a result of Obama's new amnesty directive?? This is just the beginning.

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by 88Ronin August 18, 2012 1:59 PM EDT: arkajun-2009, you are as sick as Joel Nevarez.


by Belch35 August 18, 2012 12:12 PM EDT: The other web sites that I have read state the officer on site said quite clearly it was not a pit bull. Getting your storey right before you print might be a good thing; Reply to this comment


by Amedean August 18, 2012 10:44 AM EDT: This is what happens when a guy likes a girl and he gets "friend zoned".; Reply to this comment


by dozer100 August 18, 2012 8:47 AM EDT: She brought brass knuckles to her wedding?; Reply to this comment

by AnnieDanny August 18, 2012 8:04 AM EDT

I agree with rwsmith29456, I don't think that mental issues is an excuse. Seems as if there's creeps all over the place who get themselves into a really bad place mentally and maybe somebody should point out that booze and drugs and partying aren't very healthy. Playing violent video games all the time isn't healthy, in fact I don't think any child should get started on those games because I know adults who are still addicted to them and can't seem to lead normal lives because of it. Watching violent movies and porn isn't healthy.

Why are people surprised that there is more and more "mental illness" in this world when a good share of our so-called entertainment is sick, sick, sick.

Well, I don't know how this guy turned into the creep that he is but I don't see that mental illness is an excuse considering all the ways we deliberately FEED ourselves mental garbage.

And then wonder how in the world it could happen to such a sweet, trustworthy guy....

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by makemyday2da August 18, 2012 6:50 PM EDT: AnnieDanny - Your 'comment' is the most pathetic thing I've read in a while now - and I read a LOT! First off, to blame today's problems on porn and violent video games is so far off base it's ridiculous! Porn has been around longer than you or I have been alive! And why would you think video games today are any more destructive than when we played 'Cowboys and Indians' back when we were kids? After all, we all wanted to shot the 'indians'. Then there was playing 'war' where we wanted to shot as many "****" as possible. I'm not at all racist but this is often what we were exposed to 'back in the day'.

YOU obviously know NOTHING about mental illnesses! One doesn't become mentally ill from living in a 'violent' world or from video games or TV. I challenge you to open your eyes and educate yourself as much about mental illness as you can - and not just by watching an hour long segment of Dr. Phil. YOU are negative and a KNOW-IT-ALL by reading your mean spirited diatribe. Grow up and open your mind to the reality that people DO suffer from serious mental illnesses WITHOUT exposure to violence.

by nohater August 18, 2012 4:01 AM EDT

the bride needs schooling on how to select her friends including when to dump them. someone with mental disorders who has spent time in a mental hospital should be discarded as a friend. it's like playing with dynamite that's ready to blow. lucky for her and guests, he didn't come back with a gun, shotgun, and sprayed the bride and guests. people should be wise when selecting friends.

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by makemyday2da August 18, 2012 7:08 PM EDT: nohater - you are a hater! Dump a friend because they spent time in a mental hospital?! What a shallow mind and obviously ignorant when it comes to facts about mental illnesses. I would guess you likely encounter numerous people on a DAILY basis who have been diagnosed with a mental illness. People from ALL walks of life - rich, poor, old, young, etc., suffer from mental illness and you probably don't even know it. There are celebrities, politicians, CEOs, school teacher, doctors, and countless others you encounter in your life living their lives with the help of counseling, medications, support groups and more to keep it under control. If you ever met my oldest son, you would never believe the suffering he's been through over the last several years with bi-polar disorder and PTSD. He's outgoing, exceptionally smart, polite and a wonderful son and big brother. He owns several businesses and has been in newpaper articles and magazines (including GQ).

NEVER discard a friend for a mental illness! And if there's one who is, in YOUR words "ready to blow" then don't be the one who hands him or her the dynamite and runs!