Woodbury victim of carjacking

Adrienne Packer

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001 | 11:11 a.m.

A violent carjacking that left Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury shaken but not injured Wednesday morning might have been part of a California car theft ring, the commissioner said.

Woodbury had just pulled his 1992 Lexus into a parking space on the second floor of the Palace Station garage when a man jumped out of a silver sport utility vehicle, shoved a gun in Woodbury's face and threatened to kill him.

"He stuck the gun in my face; he was quite agitated," Woodbury said Wednesday evening from his law office. "He used strong language and indicated to me he was going to kill me and I had better get out."

Woodbury scribbled down the California license plate number of the vehicle in which the gunman's accomplice -- a young woman -- drove away. Woodbury later learned the SUV had been stolen Tuesday on the Las Vegas Strip.

"My impression is it's some kind of theft ring," Woodbury said.

The commissioner's cellular phone is built into his car and he had to walk to the casino for help, delaying Metro Police's response. Woodbury's Lexus and the SUV were last seen driving west on Interstate 15 past the beltway.

Woodbury pulled into the Sahara Avenue casino parking garage about 11:40 a.m. He was scheduled to present awards during a Las Vegas Valley Water District Board luncheon.

A water district employee who witnessed the carjacking told police he saw the SUV pull behind Woodbury's car. Seconds later, the two cars sped out of the garage and Woodbury was seen leaning against the garage wall, according to a Metro Police witness report.

In his statement to police, Woodbury said he noticed the SUV behind him as he entered the second floor of the garage. His car was still idling after he pulled into his space when the man abruptly appeared in his driver's-side window, waving a large-frame, chrome handgun.

"The subject stated, 'Get the ---- out of there, fast, or I'm going to kill you,' " Woodbury told police. "The guy was waving the gun around while it was pointed in my face. The subject appeared to be extremely nervous and in a hurry."

While Woodbury was in a state of shock most of the day, he was in good spirits Wednesday evening.

"The moral of the story is use valet parking," he said.

Police are searching for the two suspects. The gunman was described as a white male in his early 20s with a crew cut. He is about 5-foot-9, 140 pounds and had no facial hair. The woman driver was described as having olive-colored skin and dark hair. She also appeared to be in her 20s, the police report said.