Trial ordered in cab hijacking

By Matt Pordum

Wednesday, March 2, 2005 | 8:33 a.m.

A 33-year-old man accused of hijacking and later crashing a taxicab on Feb. 8 will stand trial, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Deborah Lippis ruled Tuesday.

Brent Stowell is scheduled for arraignment before District Judge Jennifer Togliatti on March 9.

Police said Stowell had hailed a cab in downtown Las Vegas and traveled to a shopping center at Bonanza and Pecos roads shortly before 8 p.m. Once there, Stowell allegedly fought with the driver for control of the cab.

The driver was sprayed with pepper spray and Stowell drove away in the cab, according to police.

But Stowell went only about 50 yards before driving the cab off the road and running into a pole, Carroll said. A security guard at the shopping center saw what was happening and watched Stowell try to hide in an unlocked, unoccupied Chevy Suburban, police said. When Stowell tried to run from his hiding place, the security guard grabbed him. Stowell then was arrested by police.