Sparks Police officers say they have arrested the man suspected of stealing a SUV from the Jones-West Ford dealership on Saturday night and now believe that the recent series of stolen vehicle cases may be linked to at least two recent robberies.Â
The Reno and Sparks Police Departments say that they have been investigating a series of stolen vehicle cases since Friday, September 4th and believe that the stolen vehicles were used during at least two robberies, one at Walmart on Kietzke Lane and the second, a vehicle theft from Jones West Ford also on Kietzke Lane.Â
Monday morning, Reno Police officers located one of the stolen vehicles in the Austin Crest Apartments at 1295 Grand Summit. Surveillance was initiated and around 2:00 p.m. the suspect returned to his vehicle. The suspect fled when a traffic stop was attempted and the Reno Police Department, University of Nevada, and Sparks Police Department all attempted to stop the vehicle as it fled toward the 1000 block of Holman Way in Sparks.Â
There the suspect abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. He was then identified as 27-year-old Stephen Christie.Â
Police say around 6:00 p.m. Monday a citizen called authorities to report a man matching Christie’s description walking southeast from the direction from where he was last seen, after an earlier pursuit through Reno and then Sparks, that ended at the intersection of Holman Way and Holman Circle. Â
Officers in the area say they spotted the 27-year-old walking through an apartment complex at 1945 4th Street. During a subsequent chase police say Christie threw a handgun, and was then stopped by officers and a Police K-9. Â
Police say the handgun was recovered and Christie was treated at a local hospital for bites from the Police K-9.Â
He has since been charged with one count of armed robbery, eluding, and ex-felon in possession of a firearm. He is currently being held on a $250,000 bail and the police say that additional charges are likely as the investigation continues.Â
