Ex-sheriff candidate faces felony charge

Karen Zekan

Monday, June 30, 1997 | 4:22 a.m.

Larry Kepler, a two-time sheriff candidate and Metro Police critic, is facing felony charges after running from a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper during a routine traffic stop and threatening to kill him.

Kepler, 53, was yelling profanities at officers when he was taken into custody outside his townhome in the older Paradise Spa complex, 9475 Las Vegas Blvd. South, where he had barricaded himself for almost a half hour Sunday afternoon.

"He was calling them names like 'fascist pigs'," said Trooper Steve Harney. "The officers are to be commended for handling the situation as smoothly as they did."

Kepler was driving west along Richmar Street in a 1991 Buick when a NHP trooper patrolling in the area saw him turn north onto Las Vegas Boulevard and fail to stop at a corner stop sign, Harney said.

"The trooper initiated a traffic stop by turning on his lights and siren, but Kepler instead sped up."

Passing through a 45 mph zone and then a 55 mph zone at speeds reaching 75 mph, Harney said Kepler made a quick right turn onto Serene, which borders his townhouse complex, and got out of the Buick.

"He was saying he was going to kill the officer," Harney said. "So the officer backed off and called for backup."

A woman who authorities identified only as Kepler's wife opened the door of a townhome and let Kepler in, then shut the door and called 911, "telling the operator that her baby was being threatened and is going to be killed by an officer," Harney said.

Clark County Fire Department paramedics, a Mercy Ambulance crew and Metro Police responded to the emergency call as troopers surrounded the townhouse where Kepler remained for almost a half hour.

Concerned for the safety of two young children inside the unit, a Metro officer hiding in some bushes near the front door leaped out and grabbed Kepler when he walked out about 3:45 p.m.

Kepler allegedly faked a seizure while handcuffed in the parked patrol car.

"Officers were trying to unclip the safety belt so paramedics and Mercy could render aid when Kepler lunged at the officers and fell out of the patrol car," Harney said.

Kepler was taken to University Medical Center where he was treated for a bump on the head suffered during the fall.

He was booked Sunday night into Clark County Detention Center on two felony charges for evasion and intimidating an officer, and three misdemeanor charges for failing to stop for a stop sign, obstructing an officer and resisting arrest.

Kepler's wife, who Harney said was extremely uncooperative with authorities, may also be facing charges involving the falsified 911 call pending an investigation.