Guest attacks Denver bride with dog

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DENVER, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- A Denver woman says she didn't deserve to be beaten with brass knuckles and attacked by a pit bull at her own wedding reception.

Brittany Cortez, 22, said she was bitten and beaten when a childhood friend described as troubled turned his dog loose on her and then pummeled her with brass knuckles.

"I didn't deserve this on my wedding day," Cortez sobbed to KNXV-TV in Denver. "How could he do this to me?"

Cortez said 31-year-old Joel Nevarez, who she has known since childhood, "just stood there and laughed" as his dog attacked and dragged her "like a rag doll."

Nevarez was being sought by police Friday on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. Cortez required stitches and her new husband and another guest were also bitten by the dog.

Cortez said told KNXV she knew Nevarez had emotional issues and had only invited him because she feared he might do something drastic if he wasn't included.

The exact motivation for the alleged attack was unclear; however, KNXV said Nevarez was on probation for destruction of property and was awaiting trial on an assault charge.