For Immediate Release
| PR #: | 1400123 |
| Date Issued: | Nov 18, 2014 - 11:06am |
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Washoe Sheriff's Office seeks public's help locating the driver of the vehicle involved with last night's OIS in Sparks |
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| CONTACT: | Bob Harmon Washoe County Sheriff's Office Office 775-785-6235 Cell 775-722-5517 |
The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's assistance with locating the driver of a white Chevrolet Blazer that was involved in an Officer Involved Shooting in Sparks late last night.
The suspect is described as a Black male and was the sole occupant of the vehicle. At this time, Detectives are unsure if the suspect was struck by gunfire, however Detectives have alerted all local hospitals to be on the lookout for anyone reporting injuries consistent with this shooting.
The incident began shortly after 11:00 p.m. on Monday, November 17, 2014 when Sparks Police Department Officers responded to a report of a pending fight involving four subjects armed with guns in the 1900 block of Merchant Street in Sparks.
Two vehicles fled the area as police arrived. Sparks Police identified one of the vehicles as a black BMW sedan and the second vehicle as the white Chevrolet Blazer. Both vehicles were believed to have been involved in the reported fight.
Officers attempted to make a stop on the BMW. The occupants of the BMW refused to stop and fled at a high rate of speed. A pursuit followed. Officers ended their pursuit after losing sight of the BMW. The BMW was later located by the Reno Police Department near 7th and Sutro streets, where it had crashed into a parked car. The driver and a passenger had fled prior to Reno Police arriving and the vehicle was unoccupied.
At the same time that the BMW was fleeing the initial scene, another Sparks Police Officer was following the white Chevrolet Blazer to the 1000 block of El Rancho Drive. The Officer attempted to stop the Blazer and was out of his vehicle on foot when the driver of the Blazer accelerated his vehicle toward the Officer.
After the Officer fired several rounds at the oncoming vehicle, the Blazer fled the area at a high rate of speed. Officers from the Reno Police Department located the unoccupied Blazer around 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 in the area of Albion Way and Lester Avenue, Reno. The suspect remains outstanding.
Anyone with information related to this incident, the suspect from the Chevy Blazer, or the occupants of the black BMW, is asked to contact the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Detective Division at (775) 328-3320.
The Sparks Police Department invoked the Regional Officer Involved Shooting Protocol based on the overall circumstances and the potential that the suspect had been struck by the Officer's rounds. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is now the lead investigative agency. The Reno Police Department is assisting in the investigation consistent with the established protocol.
The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to preserving a safe and secure community with professionalism, respect, integrity and the highest commitment to equality. Sheriff Darin Balaam is the 27th person elected to serve as the Sheriff of Washoe County since the Office was created in 1861. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office strives to ensure public safety by building trust and creating partnerships within the diverse communities in which we serve. We will promote the dignity of all people supported by our words and actions through open communication while fostering an environment of professionalism, integrity and mutual respect.
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