Man charged in bar brawl, assault on deputy in VC

A Gerlach man was arrested early Sunday morning by Pyramid Lake police after an alleged bar brawl in Virginia City and an assault on an officer there.

According to Storey County Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Dias, deputies were called to Sergeant Major's Silver Dollar Saloon on C Street about 5 p.m. on Saturday after two Reno men were reportedly struck in the heads with a beer bottle. Dias said both men were treated and released by paramedics. The suspect, Michael Dyer, 54, had allegedly fled the scene in a 2004, black Chevrolet Avalanche.

Moments later, a hit-and-run accident report was received identifying Dyer and the Chevrolet Avalanche as the suspects. He was gone from that scene when officers arrived.

About 8 p.m., while officers were directing traffic in an unrelated accident, a deputy found Dyer and his vehicle.

When told to pull over, Dyer allegedly refused and fled up a dirt road. A deputy caught up with Dyer and ordered him out of the vehicle at gunpoint, then grabbed him through the window, Dias said.

"Dyer ignored the deputy's commands and engaged the vehicle in reverse causing the deputy to be thrown from the vehicle," Dias said in a press release. The deputy received minor injuries.

Dyer then allegedly fled the scene and due to the weather and road conditions, Storey County called off the chase.

About 12:30 a.m. officers with the Pyramid Lake Police Department located Dyer's vehicle and arrested him without incident.

He is being held in the Storey County Jail on suspicion of felony battery on a peace officer, assault with a deadly weapon, attempting to elude a peace officer and misdemeanor hit and run. His bail is set at $80,632.