Fugitive who attacked two officers is caught

Kim Smith

Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 | 9:43 a.m.

A 20-year-old Las Vegas man who fled before he could be sentenced for trying to rob two off-duty officers has been caught.

Metro Police spokesman Officer Tirso Dominguez said the fugitive detail arrested Taro Mitchell on Oct. 11 in the area of the Apache Pine Apartments on West Tropicana Avenue.

District Judges Michael Douglas and John McGroarty issued arrest warrants for Mitchell in August when he failed to attend sentencing hearings in their respective courtrooms.

Mitchell and Chester Johnson had pleaded guilty in an assault on two off-duty police officers who were playing pool in the garage of one of the officer's home.

Authorities said Mitchell held a gun to Mike Springer's head, but Jim Boubon was able to draw his weapon and fire four shots. Johnson was struck three times, Mitchell once.

After he and Johnson pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery on May 24, Mitchell opted to plead guilty to carrying a concealed weapon as part of an agreement in the firearms case in June.

Douglas sentenced Johnson, 18, to three to 7 1/2 years on July 19 and indicated he intended to give Mitchell, who was out on bail, a harsher sentence.

The judge never got the chance to impose the sentence because Mitchell never arrived.

Dominguez said the fugitive detail was looking for Mitchell last week when they saw him walking near the apartments on Tropicana during the early morning hours.

Mitchell ran away when he saw the officers, but was arrested after a foot pursuit, Dominguez said.