Lowndes County Man Arrested for Aggravated Assault After Dog Attack

Nickoles

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — Lowndes County investigators say a man told his dogs to attack an animal control officer. Tonight, that man is in jail.

26-year-old Matthew Bryant Nickoles has been charged with aggravated assault.

Deputies say Nickoles was approached Tuesday by the animal control officer after an individual called in a complaint.

Two pitbulls inside Nickoles’s home reportedly growled and barked at the officer. Nickoles told the officer to get off his property, and that the dogs were not his.

Nickoles allegedly opened the door, according to a press release provided by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, and told the dogs to “kill” the officer.

The officer was reportedly bitten on the leg, and made returned to his truck to call for help.

Deputies and animal control were able to bring the dogs under control.

Nickoles was eventually arrested after he allegedly attempted to run from law enforcement. He was on probation, and is now detained at the Lowndes County Detention Center.

The pitbulls are currently housed at the Lowndes County Animal Shelter.