Man charged with stealing tractor, assaulting witness

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

A man was arrested Thursday in Silver Springs on charges that he stole a bobcat tractor and then tried to run over a witness in Fernley.

According to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to the area north of Singing Waters Road on U.S. 50A in Fernley at about 3:24 p.m. Thursday, where a Fernley resident reported seeing a bobcat tractor that had been stolen from the Nevada Cement quarry.

The resident confronted the suspect, who punched the reporting party multiple times, starting a physical altercation. The suspect fled the area on foot and then returned in a Chevrolet truck. The suspect attempted to run over the reporting party before fleeing southbound on U.S. 50A toward Silver Springs.

Deputies stationed in Silver Springs located the truck and conducted a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Nugget Casino a short time later. Deputies identified 37-year old Michael Gettis as the suspect and driver of the Chevrolet.

LCSO said Gettis denied being in an altercation or stealing the bobcat, but physical evidence and the deputies’ investigation suggested otherwise. Deputies arrested Gettis and he was booked into the Lyon County Jail on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, grand larceny of a motor vehicle, battery and petit larceny. His bail was set at $37,280.

Anyone who has information regarding this case is asked to contact the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center at 775-463-6600, regarding case number 23LY00595.