Two held on suspicion of carjackings

Jen Lawson

Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2004 | 10:54 a.m.

After a high-speed chase this morning, Metro Police arrested two men who are believed to be responsible for at least four carjackings of women on Las Vegas' west side.

The suspects, whose names were not available this morning, are being held in the Clark County Detention Center on charges of robbery and evading police.

Robbert Sgt. Al Cervantes said two armed men approached an unarmed security guard at Cedar Village apartments at 2850 Cedar Ave. near Eastern Avenue about 2:20 a.m. They assaulted the guard and stole his wallet and car, Cervantes said.

Then the drove to the area of Westcliff Drive and Durango Drive and stole another car, Cervantes said.

They followed a woman home from a grocery store and when she got out of her Chrysler 300 at the nearby Angel Park apartments at 8440 Westcliff Drive, they pointed a gun at her, told her to lay on the ground and stole her purse, jewelry and car, Cervantes said.

A witness called 911 and patrol officers spotted the two suspects -- who were driving seperately in the two stolen cars -- and began chasing them with police cars and with a helicopter.

The suspect in the Chrysler pulled over on Summerlin Parkway and surrendered, Cervantes said. The other suspect crashed several miles away on Bonanza Avenue near D Street and was arrested.

These men are suspected of committing three other carjackings of women in the are of The Lakes and Summerlin over the past several months, Cervantes said.

"They followed women home, accosted them, told them to lay down and stole their jewelry, purses and cars," he said. Police expect to file additional charges in connection with the other robberies, Cervantes said.