Nevada State Police made an arrest following a pursuit that began near Battle Mountain and ended near Elko on June 4, 2026.
Around 1:30 p.m., State Police noticed a white Toyota Camry driving faster than the posted speed limit and when they tried to stop the car, the driver accelerated to 116 mph and evaded police.
Another trooper saw the Camry take the Central Carlin exit on I-80 around 2 p.m. that same day.
The vehicle was then seen driving 115 mph on SR 78 north, being chased by the Eureka County Sheriff’s Office and Carlin Police Department.
Troopers were able to successfully deploy a tire deflation device, also known as a Stop Stick, as the vehicle entered the Carlin Tunnel. The Camry slowed to approximately 80 miles per hour after the left front tire tread separated from the rim.
The suspect continued driving east on I-80 toward Elko and slowed to 20 mph. At that point, the driver got out of the car and ran into a ranching area south of the interstate.
The Elko County Sheriff's Office deployed a drone to help keep track of the suspect.Â
After 30 minutes of chasing the suspect on foot, police arrested him around 5:45 p.m. and booked him into the Elko County Jail.
David Basil Mercer faces speeding charges in addition to reckless driving, evade, elude or fail to stop, resisting a public officer, using or being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and DUI.
