Washoe County Sheriff's Deputies have released photos of two men they believe witnessed an incident where a Reno Police Officer was struck by a car in mid-August.
Deputies say the two men (featured in surveillance photos attached to this story) are witnesses only to the alleged crime and neither is facing criminal charges. The first person (top) is described as a white man, approximately 5'9" tall, last seen wearing a dark gray t-shirt and light colored jeans with black jeans and a gray Arizona Diamondbacks baseball hat. The second person (bottom) is described as a black man, approximately 5'10" tall, with short black hair, last seen wearing a light colored shirt and light blue jeans.
Detectives say these two were witnesses when 25-year-old Russell Roberts allegedly hit a Reno Police Officer when the officer was summoned to a disturbance outside a bar on 2nd Street in Reno around 1:30am on August 13th, 2015. Investigators say when the officer went to approach the scene, Roberts accelerated and struck him. They say during that time the Reno Police Officer fired several shots into the vehicle, striking Roberts once.
A July 2013 arrest record shows Roberts was booked into the Washoe County Jail on drug-related charges, escape by a felony prisoner, and gun possession by a prohibited person. Roberts also has several criminal offenses in his past. Seven to be exact since 2013.Â
Back in the year 2013, Roberts had three run ins with the law. One was a domestic violence related arrest. Later he was arrested in a Sparks motel for intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of an illegal gun. Roberts was also charged when he broke out of a cop car after being arrested. From 2014 to 2015, Roberts has skipped his court hearings and violated his probation multiple times.
The officer was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and Roberts fled the scene. Later that same day Roberts car was located in a residential neighborhood above Caughlin Ranch. At the time witnesses told Channel 2 News there was blood and broken glass inside of the car.
Early the next Saturday morning Roberts was located inside of a motel on 4th Street in Reno. He was taken into custody and is currently in the Washoe County Jail on Battery with a Deadly Weapon along with other charges.
Investigators ask the witnesses, or anyone with information about the witnesses, to call the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Detective Division at (775) 328-3320 or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900.
