A routine alert from a license plate reader in Henderson spiraled into violence on Monday, resulting in a sergeant needing medical attention and a suspect with a bullet wound in custody. The Henderson police sergeant, identified as Sgt. S. Alward, responded to the stolen vehicle alert and ended up needing 11 staples for a head injury after an altercation with the suspect, according to a FOX5 Vegas report.
Johnathan Gaston, the 43-year-old driver, allegedly accelerated his black Jeep Liberty directly towards Alward, prompting the sergeant to quickly fire his weapon in an attempt to stop the vehicle. FOX5 Vegas reported that the sergeant had located the Jeep in a Panda Express parking lot near Boulder Highway and Lake Mead Parkway shortly after 1 p.m. when the incident occurred. Alward struck Gaston's vehicle five times before being hit himself.
Gaston sustained a gunshot wound to his arm during the encounter before crashing into two other parked cars and fleeing into a nearby Chase Bank. "At least one of those bullets hit Gaston’s arm," indicated the initial FOX5 Vegas report. He was later treated at Sunrise Hospital, as was Sgt. Alward for his injuries.
According to a follow-up article by News 3 LV, the passenger in the Jeep, who met Gaston earlier that day, walked away from the scene unharmed and seemingly unaware of the vehicle's stolen plates. He told investigators that he had just been seeking a ride to Henderson after meeting Gaston through a tattoo artist. This individual was not charged in connection with the incident.
Gaston now faces multiple charges including attempted murder of a police officer, battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm, resist public officer with a deadly weapon, duty to stop at the scene of an accident, and buying/possessing/receiving stolen property. As reported by Hoodline, the Henderson Police Department charged Gaston and has since placed Sgt. Alward on paid administrative leave as per department policy while the investigation continues.
FOX5 Vegas Investigates examined Gaston's criminal history and discovered that this is not the first time he has been accused of car-related crimes. Las Vegas Justice Court records indicate that Gaston was accused of possessing a stolen car in September. He was on house arrest but failed to attend court hearings, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest.
