Suspect in series of bank heists arrested

Monday, Oct. 11, 2004 | 9:32 a.m.

Police are trying to determine if a 40-year-old Las Vegas man who was arrested Friday is responsible for a string of recent bank robberies in the valley.

Kevin Jay Johnson was arrested by Metro Police Friday morning after a bank was robbed and after the suspect was hit by a Metro detective's car during a subsequent chase.

Johnson was treated at University Medical Center for minor injuries, after which he was taken to Clark County Detention Center.

Sgt. Gayland Hammack of Metro's robbery section said the Nevada State Bank at 1921 N. Rainbow Blvd. was robbed about 10 a.m. Friday.

Johnson fits the description of a man who police believe is responsible for seven other bank hold-ups in Las Vegas and Henderson in the past four months, Hammack said.

After Friday's robbery, police spotted the suspect in the area of Sahara Avenue and Paradise Road, and when they tried to pull him over, he tried to flee by backing up south on Paradise, Hammack said.

Johnson's vehicle collided with a patrol car that had blocked him. Johnson headed north on Paradise and turned east onto Sahara with police pursuing him, Hammack said.

Just west of Joe W. Brown Drive, a detective performed a "precision immobilization technique" to stop Johnson's car. In this maneuver, the officer's front bumper taps the suspect's rear wheel well, sending the suspect's car into a disabling spin that usually results in the car stalling.

Johnson started his car again and fled again, but soon afterward jumped from the car as it was still moving and was hit by a detective's car, Hammack said. Johnson was then arrested.