Metro Police shoot suspect in tourist slaying

Cathy Scott

Thursday, July 24, 1997 | 9:59 a.m.

A homicide suspect shot by police after he rammed a police car has been identified as 33-year-old Arthur Lee Garrison.

Garrison, a murder suspect in the death of 67-year-old tourist Mildred Prunier, was in fair condition today at University Medical Center.

Dirt bike riders found Prunier's body Tuesday night in a desert area near Nellis Air Force Base.

About 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, homicide detectives received information leading them to Prunier's vehicle, which was missing. The car was spotted in a mobile home park. Garrison allegedly got in the car and drove out of the park with homicide detectives and patrol officers following him, police said.

About 45 minutes later, patrol officers spotted the vehicle near Desert Inn Road and Lamb Boulevard. They tried to stop Garrison.

"Garrison failed to stop and accelerated away from the officers, trying to elude them," Capt. Charles Davidaitis said.

The officers continued pursuing Garrison, and he led them into an apartment complex at 3000 Sandhill Road.

"One of the officers blocked the exit of the complex with his patrol car," Davidaitis said. "Garrison rammed the patrol car, pushing it out of the way. The patrol officer was able to jump from the vehicle just prior to impact and escaped injury."

A second officer continued the pursuit, Davidaitis said.

Garrison allegedly drove through the parking lot of Gismo's Bar, at Sandhill and Vegas Valley Drive, jumping the curb. He lost control and crashed the car into a parked vehicle.

"Garrison jumped out of the vehicle, concealing his right hand, and ran into the driveway at 3970 Vegas Valley," Davidaitis said. "The officer, fearing for the safety of the residents, fired, hitting Garrison in the left shoulder."

A neighbor, who lives directly behind the location where Garrison was shot, said she heard three shots fired.

Garrison was taken by ambulance to UMC's trauma unit for treatment. He was booked in absentia on charges of murder, robbery and grand larceny auto.

The patrol officer, whose name has not been released, was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.