LV man held, suspect in carjacking spree

Jen Lawson

Tuesday, April 22, 2003 | 11:02 a.m.

In a crime spree described by Metro Police as "extremely violent and bizarre," a man allegedly committed three carjackings in Las Vegas, forced a couple to drive him to Long Beach, Calif., then held his 2-year-old son hostage on a city bus while exchanging gunfire with police.

Daniel James Sigler, 22, is being held in Long Beach on charges of attempted murder of his estranged girlfriend and police officers. Metro plans to obtain arrest warrants for Sigler for robbery, attempted murder and kidnapping, all with a deadly weapon.

"It defies logic, what he did," Lt. Ted Snodgrass said.

The series of crimes began early Saturday afternoon, when Sigler tried to carjack a man at a car wash at Boulder Highway and Indios Avenue, according to police.

Police say he held a gun to the victim and ordered him to turn over his car, but the man refused and drove off. Sigler fired three shots at the car, hitting the victim twice through the driver's side door, Snodgrass said. The victim drove to a nearby apartment complex and got help for his injuries.

Sigler then walked to a residential area nearby and approached a man getting into his truck. Sigler allegedly flashed his handgun and ordered the victim to drive him to the area of Nellis Boulevard and Flamingo Road, which he did, Snodgrass said. When the victim stopped his truck, he jumped out and ran from Sigler.

Sigler drove the victim's truck west on Flamingo, then lost control while turning right onto the northbound on-ramp of U.S. 95. The truck rolled, and several passers-by stopped to help, unaware that Sigler had just stolen the truck.

He turned on the Good Samaritans, Snodgrass said.

"He gets out and confronts these guys who were from St. George," Utah, he said. Snodgrass said Sigler got into the driver's seat, and when the driver tried to stop him, Sigler showed him his gun.

Police said Sigler took off in the man's car, heading north on U.S. 95.

He abandoned the car at some point, Snodgrass said. Police found the car, but Snodgrass declined to say where.

About 5 p.m. Sunday, police allege Sigler walked up to a middle-aged couple getting out of their car in their driveway near Nellis Boulevard and Harmon Avenue.

He ordered them at gunpoint back into the car and demanded a ride to Long Beach, Calif., police said. About four hours and 280 miles later, they reached Long Beach, and Sigler ran from the car. The couple called Metro when they got back to Las Vegas. It's not clear, Snodgrass said, why they waited until their return to call.

"It was a righteous kidnapping," Snodgrass said. "I talked to them this morning and they were very upset."

At 5:30 a.m. Monday, police allege Sigler broke into his estranged girlfriend's apartment and shot at her while she crouched in a closet, Officer Jana Blair of the Long Beach Police said. The woman was not hurt. Sigler grabbed his 2-year-old son and ran from the apartment.

Officers canvassed the area and notified the local transit company of Sigler's description. A bus driver called police a short time later and said a man matching Sigler's description had just boarded his bus with a little boy.

The bus driver pulled over, and police ordered the driver and passengers off the bus. About 15 people got off the bus, all except Sigler and his son, Blair said.

After the last passenger exited the bus, Sigler fired shots at police. He hit a police cruiser and officers returned fire. No one was hurt.

About 7:45 a.m., Sigler let his diaper-clad son off the bus, tossed out his handgun and surrendered, lying down on the pavement with his arms and legs spread, Blair said.

The child, who suffered minor cuts to his feet, was treated at a hospital and released to child welfare authorities.

Snodgrass said authorities in California might have Sigler answer to charges there before being returned to Las Vegas.

Snodgrass also has an outstanding bench warrant for his arrest in Las Vegas after his probation was revoked last year on a charge of possession of a controlled substance, according to District Court records.

"I don't have enough on this guy to say what his motivation was," Snodgrass said. "He was very unpredictable, very violent.

"This is going to be a lengthy investigation to get it all put together. You have so many felonies here."