A Washoe County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle was struck during a search for fleeing larceny suspects.
It started Friday just before 10 p.m. when deputies responded to a report of a crash at Douglas Drive and Eastlake Boulevard.
When deputies arrived, they found two people from the at-fault vehicle had fled the scene on foot.
During the investigation, deputies learned the suspects had allegedly just stolen merchandise from a Chevron gas station on Eastlake Boulevard before the crash.
Deputies immediately began searching the surrounding neighborhood with assistance from a Washoe County Sheriff’s Office HAWK drone.
During the search, deputies received information that the suspects may have been hiding near the gravel pits off Jumbo Grade.
At the gravel pits, one suspect, identified as 29-year-old Gaylen Downs, surrendered. He had injuries from the crash and was taken to a local hospital. He was later cited for larceny and resisting a public officer.
While deputies continued searching for the second suspect, a vehicle traveling down the dirt road at a high rate of speed crashed head-on into an unoccupied Washoe County Sheriff’s Office vehicle.
Deputies say the four people inside the vehicle were unrelated to the original crash and larceny investigation. The driver, identified as 19-year-old Makaylie Briggs-Rowland, was arrested for driving under the influence.
Deputies continued searching for the remaining suspect from the original incident and located 21-year-old Nicholas Quinah Downs hiding nearby.
The investigation determined Downs was the driver of the vehicle involved in the original crash. He was taken into custody and booked on the following charges:
- Driving Under the Influence Resulting in Substantial Bodily Harm
- Duty to Stop at the Scene of an Accident
- Resisting a Public Officer
- Conspiracy to Commit Petit Larceny
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch line at (775) 785-9276 (WCSO), referencing case number WC26-3523.
