VICTIM OR CRIMINAL
Metro blurs the line between protection and abuse when it comes to this specific dog attack
BY DAVID HIMMEL

To many Nevadans, the phrase �wild, wild west� attracts images of the unsettled days of a 19th Century America with the good guys in white and the bad in black. For baby boomers, the wild, wild west might conjure up that handsome gunslinger, James West, played by Robert Conrad in the 1960s television series.

For one of Las Vegas� finest, it�s a matter of law; an unchallenged authority, a fierce effort in using fear, the power of a badge and holstered gun and taser to inflict submission.

On March 13, Sergeant Pinjuv of the Las Vegas Metropolitan police department brashly told Dawn Hansen, a 46-year-old woman suffering from multiple sclerosis who had just been attacked by a pit bull, �I don�t know where you�re from lady, but this is the wild, wild west and we do things differently out here,� read a Metro Internal Affairs report filed by Hansen.

Metro was called to the Hansen household because of a pit-bull attack on Dawn and her dog Bhuvan, a �gentle Boxer,� the Hansen family says. Dawn is the wife of former Nevada gubernatorial candidate and State Chairman of the Independent American Party Christopher Hansen.

The pit bull in question is a familiar neighbor. It earlier attacked Hansen�s daughter, Whitney, knocking her down and biting her twice two years ago. This � according to the Hansens � led to the dog�s owner, Joshua Neives, attacking Christopher, injuring his neck and nearly blinding him.

Neives was charged with a misdemeanor and, for a while, the two neighbors were civil to each other. But recently, Neives� pit bull had begun appearing over the cinderblock. It seemed that the dog was hell bent on getting over that wall and into Hansen�s yard to get another go at Bhuvan. Animal Control was notified of this and Neives admitted to applying for quotes on having the wall raised to prevent any more trouble. 

But that March 13 evening, the pit bull had somehow managed to get into the Hansen backyard and attack Bhuvan and Dawn again.

Dawn�s screams alarmed Christopher, and their son, Joshua, gathered his unloaded .22 rifle to use as a club. Although armed with a pistol, Joshua chose to wrestle the pit bull in order to free Bhuvan�s shredded leg.

Dawn phoned the police and when they arrived, they demanded Christopher come to the front of the house. In the front yard, in the middle of the neighborhood, the Hansen family was frisked and questioned while their injured and beloved Bhuvan lay inside bleeding.

NRS 568.370 states that �Permitting a dog to chase, worry, injure or kill domestic animals on an open range or private property is unlawful.

�It is unlawful for any person to permit a dog to chase, worry, injure or kill cattle, sheep or other domestic animal on the open range or on private property.�

And according to NRS 571.022, a dog is considered a domestic animal.

At this point in the evening, there should have been no question about who the police should have been questioning. Instead of gathering information from Neives, another officer told Christopher to put his hands behind his back, and although he could not physically do that because of a prior injury, he offered to place them on his head. But the officer forced Christopher�s hands together causing an incredible amount of pain.

Dawn protested.

Why were the Hansen�s being treated like the criminals? Neives and his pit bulls had clearly broken the law. But instead, the commanding officer, Pinjuv, proclaimed the neighborhood the �wild, wild west� and threatened to throw Dawn in the squad car if she didn�t quiet down.

After confiscating Joshua�s gun and ignoring the apparent pain Christopher was now in because of the negligence of the other officer, the cops left. Bhuvan was rushed to the vet for more than 50 puncture wounds. More surgeries may be necessary. 

Christopher too went to the emergency room and, more than a month later, still feels the shooting pain in his neck and back from the officer�s behavior. 

Lt. Herpolsheimer is the officer in charge of Pinjuv and his men. The Hansens say that he was very kind and understanding and admitted that Pinjuv, a veteran of 35 years, should not have acted in the manner he did, under any circumstances. 

An Internal Affairs investigation continues along with the mounting fear of Las Vegas� foot soldiers wielding unnecessary force and intimidation.