Search continues for armed burglary suspect following Monday night car chase

UPDATE TUESDAY 9AM: The search continues this morning for a man who led Carson City sheriff's deputies on a vehicle chase near the Prison Hill area. Both detectives and deputies continued the search and the investigation overnight and into this morning.

The suspect allegedly broke into two homes, stole several weapons and other property and fled. A woman walked in on the suspect as he was stealing guns from her home and gave authorities a description of the vehicle the man was seen driving.

He was followed by deputies which then grew to a chase through Carson River Road area. The vehicle became stuck on a hill on Rio Vista Lane and the man took off running. The search area overnight was Highway 395 and the Northern Nevada Correctional Center.

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UPDATE: Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said law officers are actively searching tonight for a suspect that led deputies on a vehicle chase that began shortly before 5 p.m. following two home burglaries where weapons and other property was stolen.

The suspect is described as a white male, with a tall and slender build and is considered armed and dangerous, said Furlong, who has been participating in the chase since it began. A Washoe County Sheriff's Office RAVEN helicopter was used in the search but returned for the night for refueling, said Furlong.

Officers from Douglas County and the Nevada Highway Patrol are aiding in the search, which will continue tonight in the southern part of Carson City near the Douglas County line.

Deputy Bob Guimont observed the suspect's vehicle off of East Fifth Street and began following it with lights and sirens. The pursuit continued where the suspect sped through Carson River Road making its way to Rio Vista Lane, a sparsely populated area where the pavement ends. The suspect's vehicle got stuck on the road where he then ran south toward Prison Hill.

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UPDATE: Carson City sheriff's officers continue to look tonight for a man who allegedly broke into a Roundup Road home, took several guns and then led deputies on a vehicle chase that ended in the hills above Carson River Road in the Prison Hill area.

Undersheriff Steve Albertsen said a RAVEN helicopter has been doing sweeps of the area, and several officers are on foot. The area is dense with vegetation and rocks and difficult to maneuver. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous.

The chase ended on Rio Vista Lane, a sparsely populated area where the pavement ends and the road turns soft and sandy. Witness Sue Hasseler said she was doing arts and crafts inside her home and heard police cars. She went outside to check it out and saw the suspect get stuck on the road and deputies not to far behind.

Hasseler said she saw the man take off running south through the rocky area and deputies began a foot pursuit. The area is difficult to get through, she said, and she offered arriving officers to take them up with her ATV. The officers declined, she said, because it was thought the man was armed.

"The road, we call Mika's Mound for our dog, gets a lot of people stuck. We put a sign up saying the road ends 150 feet just to warn people. You can't make it up without a quad," Hasseler said. "I watched the guy stuck and then he just bolted toward Prison Hill with a deputy right behind chasing him. As the police arrived there was tons of dust kicked up, may 20 feet high."

Backup reinforcement was called in and there were several moments where they spotted the suspect. But as the skies darkened it became increasingly difficult to see. The RAVEN helicopter, operated by the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, was called in for the search.

What is known about the incident is that a woman called 911 to report that a man had broken into her home as she arrived and saw him leave carrying several of her weapons. The suspect's vehicle had masking tape over the license plate and a gas can inside on the passenger seat. Inside the vehicle were gun shells and casings.

Officers are also investigating another home invasion in the area of Quinn Drive that may also be related.

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A RAVEN Helicopter from Washoe County has been ordered after a man allegedly went inside a Roundup Road home, took several weapons, fled in a car and led Carson City Sheriff's Office deputies on a high speed chase up Carson River Road.

The man then jumped out of the vehicle and fled with a deputy chasing him in the hills above Rio Vista Lane. Officers have swarmed the area and believe they have him in their sights, climbling up a hillside along a ridge.

The incident began shortly before 5 p.m. when a woman called dispatch to report that a man entered her home and took some of her weapons. The woman reported that she ran into her bedroom and locked the door. The man then took off in a silver or gray vehicle.

The chase up the stretch of road, southbound, was estimated to hit speeds of 90 to 100 mph.

Several handguns and long guns were reported stolen from the residence. The man is believed to be armed and dangerous.