Anonymous Call About Tiger Leads to Chase, Man’s Arrest

A 33-year-old animal trainer who allegedly kept a baby tiger without a permit in Canyon Country led California Fish and Game Department officers on a chase Friday down the Antelope Valley Freeway before being taken into custody and charged with various offenses, including assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, authorities said.

Karl Mitchell, who lists a business address on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, was also charged with grand theft auto, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, possession of a concealed firearm, evading arrest and possession of a wild cat without a permit, Sgt. Gus Risinger of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Deputies said the incident started when an anonymous caller told them that Mitchell was keeping a tiger.

The call led Fish and Game officers on Friday morning to stake out the Canyon Country house where Mitchell was staying. At 11:35 a.m., Mitchell emerged from the house and drove off in a pickup truck with the tiger, Risinger said.

Two Fish and Game officers followed him in separate cars and signaled him to pull over, Risinger said.

He said Mitchell was pursued by the officers for five miles. He was forced to stop near the Sand Canyon off-ramp when one of the officers pulled his car in front of Mitchell’s truck and the second officer blocked Mitchell from behind, Risinger said.

Officers said Mitchell told them he trained animals for the movies.

Risinger said Mitchell “put his car in reverse and backed into a Fish and Game vehicle behind him, then smashed into the one in front of him before driving off.”

A Santa Clarita sheriff’s deputy who had been summoned to the scene managed to pull Mitchell over and took him into custody, Risinger said.

Police said the truck Mitchell was driving had been reported stolen in Las Vegas.

Mitchell is being held without bail at the Santa Clarita substation.