Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal
A police pursuit of a stolen vehicle Thursday, ended in a wreck in Mound House and the arrest of a previously deported illegal immigrant.
Suspect Orasio Gutierrez-Murillo, 25, was taken to Renown Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries sustained in the 4:16 p.m. accident on Highway 50 East.
Carson Sheriff's Sgt. Brian Humphrey said upon Gutierrez-Murillo's release, he will be booked into the Carson City Jail on suspicion of felony possession of a stolen vehicle, eluding, reckless endangerment, possession of methamphetamine and battery with a deadly weapon.
Just before 4 p.m. Thursday the victim of a car theft reported seeing his Toyota Land Cruiser being driven through the Save Mart parking lot, nearby where it had been stolen from on Woodside Drive Tuesday.
When an officer attempted to pull the vehicle over at Harbin and Fifth streets, Gutierrez-Murillo allegedly led police on a low-speed chase throughout the city.
In a bid to avoid a roadblock at Roop and William streets, officers said, he drove onto the lawn in the front of the Carson City Community Center and rammed a patrol cruiser attempting to block his escape.
He then headed east on Highway 50 East into Lyon County at speeds in excess of 75 mph, said Humphrey.
Lyon County Sheriff's Lt. Rob Hall said Lyon County officers were driving toward the pursuit to put out spike strips when the Land Cruiser slammed into an unsuspecting motorist.
Humphrey said he watched in horror as a green sedan carrying a man and woman pulled into the path of the fleeing Land Cruiser.
"(The suspect) tried to avoid it," Humphrey said. "I was devastated at that point. We were traveling at high speeds. I saw the impact, saw the vehicle spinning around, and my fear was that we had some major injuries."
The Land Cruiser came to rest in the dirt shoulder in front of the Mound House True Value Hardware store.
While Humphrey ran to aid the victims, he said Gutierrez-Murillo attempted to flee on foot.
"As soon as he got out, he was in a full-sprint run with several officers following him," Humphrey said.
Carson City Deputy Bob Guimont said when Gutierrez-Murillo realized he would not escape, the suspect turned to him and took a fighting stance.
"He was not giving up without a fight," Guimont said.
After struggling with a number of officers and being hit with a Taser, officers were able to cuff him, Guimont said.
The victims in the sedan were taken from the scene by helicopter. The female passenger suffered a broken leg and the male driver sustained injuries to his arm and head, an officer said. Their names were not immediately available.
The accident blocked eastbound traffic for about an hour.
Humphrey said a search of Gutierrez-Murillo's record indicated he'd been arrested by Reno Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in May 2008 and subsequently deported from the country. It's not clear when he returned to the U.S., said Humphrey.