Dog slapped during assault - Palm Springs, CA

Monday, Nov 5, 2007

County: Riverside

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Dismissed

Person of Interest: Nicolaus Gilbert Duran

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A Rancho Mirage man was behind bars Monday for allegedly punching a Palm Springs contractor, brandishing a knife and slapping a dog, authorities said.

Nicolaus Gilbert Duran, 26, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of brandishing a knife and one count of animal cruelty, said Palm Springs police Sgt. Mitch Spike.

Duran was locked up in lieu of $25,000 bail, he said.

Officers responding to a report of a man with a knife in the 600 block of Desert Way about 6:30 p.m. Monday found 45-year-old Jeffrey Laing, a Palm Springs contractor, who told them he was at work remodeling a home when he saw a man with a knife in one hand punch a mailbox, then come at him.

"Laing reported that the man approached him with a knife in his hand and punched him several times in the face and body," Spike said.

Laing said he ran into the back yard to find his boss, 57-year-old Richard Barton of Palm Springs, and the two men locked themselves inside the home, Spike said.

One of them called police when they saw Duran chasing another worker, Spike said.

A neighbor also told police the man "approached her, made a rude comment, and then slapped the dog on the side of the head before walking away," Spike said.

Case Updates

Nicolaus Gilbert Duran appeared in Riverside county Superior Court on Friday 9/26/08. He accepted a plea agreement, pleading guilty to assault and was sentenced to one day county jail, probation and pay of fine of $500.00 dollars. In the plea agreement the animal cruelty charge was dismissed.

Source: Riverside County Court case #INM186822 Update posted on Sep 30, 2008 - 9:07AM

References

• WESQ - Nov 6, 2007
• Palm Springs Police - Case # 0711P-1064

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