A suspect arrested after a standoff near the Las Vegas Strip this week nearly hit a tourist on a sidewalk while evading police, according to an arrest report.
Wilson Reyes-Gonzalez, 24, was arrested after his car was blocked by police in a PIT maneuver near Flamingo and Koval lanes on Wednesday, Nov. 30.
In their arrest report, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police say an officer saw Reyes-Gonzalez driving closely behind a taxicab east of the LINQ. The officer gave him verbal commands but the driver didn't listen and continued to follow the cab at a close distance.
The cab returned to the LINQ with Reyes following close behind. Another officer spotted them and tried to stop Reyes-Gonzalez with lights activated. Reyes drove past the officers and onto the curbs, and he "continued to flee on the sidewalk in a highly populated tourist destination," the report states.
Reyes-Gonzalez drove onto Las Vegas Boulevard and followed closely behind another car before returning to the LINQ. He crashed through security arms at the entrance and exit and then returned to Las Vegas Boulevard before pulling through the Bally's valet area. He drove through a curb and almost hit a tourist walking with a stroller on the sidewalk, police allege.
He went east on Flamingo through Koval and police were authorized to begin a pursuit. He continued to evade police and officers engaged in a PIT maneuver to block his car.
Reyes-Gonzalez pressed on the gas, causing the tires to spin, and police said they believed he was trying to ram his way through their cruisers. Officers set up action teams and began issuing commands from a distance, though Reyes still gassed his car, eventually causing the tires to pop and spin on their rims.
Police wrote that they gave commands for 30 minutes without a response. Ultimately, Reyes' car caught fire and officers had to pull him out of the driver's seat. The fire spread to another police cruiser, causing damage to its front end.
Reyes was taken to Sunrise Hospital and refused to speak with police. Police wrote that they had to do a workup to establish a possible identity for him, which was later confirmed through his family.
He has been booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon against a first responder and disobeying a peace officer, endangering another person. His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 6.