Search in southwest valley called off; school lockdown, road closings lifted

By Jackie Valley

Published Thursday, March 1, 2012 | 11:24 a.m.

Updated Thursday, March 1, 2012 | 1:02 p.m.

A search for a suspect Thursday in the southwest valley has been called off, lifting road closures and a school lockdown in the area, authorities said.

Metro Police's SWAT unit and crisis negotiation team had closed several nearby streets and surrounded the Southwest Ranch Condominiums, 9925 Russell Road, where they initially thought the suspect may have fled after he rammed his truck into the garage door at a nearby home and then possibly fired shots, police said.

Metro ended its search of the condominium unit shortly before noon, police spokesman Bill Cassell said. The suspect, last seen wearing blue jeans and a blue jacket, was not found.

Police have shifted gears and are developing other leads, which they hope will lead them to the suspect, Cassell said.

The incident began about 6:30 a.m. in the 5600 block of Thunder Spirit Street, near Russell Road and Grand Canyon Drive, police said.

The suspect — described as a black man, about 5-feet-7-inches tall, who has dreadlocks — drove his champagne-colored Ford F-150 pickup truck into the garage door before fleeing, Cassell said. The man inside the home, who was not injured, possibly knew the suspect, Cassell added.

Police received reports of shots fired, but they have not determined whether there was a shooting, he said.

Authorities found the suspect’s truck near the Southwest Ranch Condominiums, which are about 300 feet west of Thunder Spirit Street.

The incident prompted Clark County School District Police early today to divert students from Batterman Elementary School to Fertitta Middle School, which is a district evacuation site.

It’s unclear what motivated the incident or how the two men knew each other.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or visit www.crimestoppersofnv.com.