Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

2 men nabbed after robberies, chase possibly linked to other crimes

Updated Wednesday, April 27, 2011 | 3:42 p.m.

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Metro Police are investigating whether two men arrested Wednesday morning after two armed robberies and a car chase could be connected to other recent crimes in the area.

Las Vegas residents Kyle Knights, 18, and Richard Anthony Sanchez, 19, fired shots at officers' patrol cars during the pursuit before police used a PIT maneuver near Eastern Avenue on U.S. 95, forcing the suspects' pickup truck to stop, authorities said.

Police said Knights and Sanchez each were charged with assault with a deadly weapon, burglary with a deadly weapon, robbery with use of a deadly weapon and two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery. Knights also was arrested for an outstanding bench warrant for battery with a deadly weapon from a previous incident.

The incident began shortly before midnight Tuesday when one of the men allegedly walked into a Rebel convenience store at 4220 E. Sahara Ave., displayed a handgun, demanded money and fled to a white, construction-type pickup truck being driven by the other man, police said.

An hour later, police believe the same suspects committed another armed robbery at Green Valley Grocery, 5785 E. Charleston Blvd.

Based on witness descriptions, police said officers spotted the suspects' vehicle near Nellis and Charleston boulevards, but the pickup truck refused to pull over.

When officers initiated a pursuit, the man in the passenger seat leaned out and fired at officers between Charleston Boulevard and Sahara Avenue, Capt. Patrick Neville said.

The pursuit continued to U.S. 95, where the suspects fired five more shots at patrol cars before dropping the gun out the window, Neville said.

Officers decided to use the PIT maneuver on the highway, deeming it the safest place to do so, police said.

The two men and a woman inside the pickup truck were taken to University Medical Center for either minor injuries or observation, police said. Knights and Sanchez were released and booked into the Clark County Detention Center, where they are being held without bail, according to jail records.

Police are trying to determine the woman's involvement in the alleged crime spree. She hasn't been arrested.

Detectives are investigating whether Sanchez and Knights were involved in previous Las Vegas robberies, including some Tuesday, because there are similarities to previous suspect descriptions, police said.

"If a person does one, we always believe they could have possibly done two or more," said Lt. Ray Steiber of Metro's robbery section.

Steiber said the suspects' alleged crime spree follows a pattern observed by police this year: There are fewer robberies overall, but the ones committed have been more violent, often involving a weapon.

"A police officer's job is inherently dangerous, and we know that coming into the profession," he said. "When people decide to use a handgun — and discharge that handgun — without any consideration for the public or police officers ... we take that very seriously."

Police said Knights has no known criminal history in Las Vegas, but Sanchez has previous arrests for, among other things, attempted murder with a deadly weapon, trafficking a controlled substance and assault with a deadly weapon.

Knights and Sanchez are scheduled to make their first court appearance Thursday.

Police closed northbound lanes of U.S. 95 near Eastern Avenue as they investigated the scene early Wednesday morning, snarling traffic for much of the morning commute.

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