Wednesday, July 16, 1997 | 9:21 a.m.
A television reporter has been arrested for drunken driving after leaving the scene of a three-car accident and fleeing from officers, who chased him by car and on foot.
John Schantz, a KVBC Chan-nel 3 reporter whose on-camera name is John Bonds, "rear-ended two other vehicles" about 3:40 p.m. Friday at Alta Drive and Antelope Way, according to a Metro Police arrest report.
Three people stood at the 33-year-old Schantz's car talking with him before he allegedly put his car in reverse and floored it, speeding away in the opposite direction, police said. Witnesses told police the car didn't have a front license plate. The car continued speeding northbound in reverse against oncoming southbound traffic, police said.
Lt. John Alamshaw, who heads Metro's Internal Affairs Bureau, was on his way home from work when he saw the car speeding away from the scene in reverse. Alamshaw made a U-turn and followed the car until it turned into a neighborhood.
The car, according to the police report, weaved its way through the neighborhood to a dead-end street, where Alamshaw blocked it with his vehicle. But Schantz allegedly was able to get around the lieutenant's car and once again fled. Alamshaw, however, recognized the driver as Bonds.
The officer continued following him until the car turned into an apartment complex just north of Westcliff Drive. Alamshaw called for backup and a patrol vehicle blocked the other exit of the complex. Alamshaw said he waited at the exit and a few minutes later saw Schantz walking out of the complex. Alamshaw said he drove up to Schantz and told him he was a police officer. Schantz allegedly ran and Alamshaw chased him for about 20 yards before taking him into custody.
Schantz was positively identified by one of the other drivers as the one involved in the accident, the arrest report said.
"I noticed that Schantz's eyes were glassy and his speech slurred," and an odor of alcohol was detected, the arresting officer reported. Schantz submitted to a blood alcohol test.
Schantz's attorney, Oscar Goodman, said, "There's no evidence at this point of a DUI," adding that he didn't believe the test results were back yet. He also noted that Schantz has a morals clause in his Channel 3 contract, meaning that any conviction could be a fireable offense.
Schantz, when contacted by phone, declined to comment.
Schantz was booked into the city of Las Vegas' Detention Center and charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to stop at an accident. He was released at 10:30 p.m. Friday on a bond.
No injuries were reported in the accident.
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