Man who drove through dam checkpoints goes to halfway house

Jace Radke

Friday, May 2, 2003 | 11:19 a.m.

The 29-year-old Las Vegas man who drove through a security checkpoint at Hoover Dam Thursday and then led police on a 60-mile chase through Arizona has been ordered to a halfway house and placed under pre-trial services supervision.

David Hamer is charged with felony assault of a federal officer for allegedly driving his car at Bureau of Reclamation Police as he ran a roadblock at Hoover Dam.

Hamer was released on a personal recognizance bond by U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Johnston this morning.

Shari Kaufman, the assistant federal public defender representing Hamer, said her client has lived in Las Vegas for more than three years and has no prior criminal record.

"I understand the heightened security at the dam, but he had nothing in his car," Kaufman said. "He should have stopped, but with his lack of a criminal history I don't believe this will result in any jail time.

"I believe that it won't stay a felony charge."

Hoover Dam Manager Gary Bryant said Bureau of Reclamation Police and officials still didn't know much about David Hamer, but said that it does not appear his motives were terrorist in nature.

"He just drove over the dam at 50 mph, but he didn't throw anything out or stop," Bryant said. "When he was stopped nothing was found in his car. We don't really know what he was doing."

Johnston ordered Hamer not to leave Clark County while the case is pending and will allow pre-trial services to monitor him electronically.