A late-night police pursuit through southwest Las Vegas turned into a two-vehicle ordeal Friday when a suspect allegedly ditched one car, then carjacked a taxi before finally being arrested in the south valley, according to police.
Police account
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told KTNV that officers were first alerted at 11:40 p.m. to a vehicle reportedly being driven recklessly. LVMPD said its air unit then picked up the trail and tracked the car at speeds "in excess of 100 MPH" as it wove through traffic.
According to the department, officers stopped the initial vehicle near Dean Martin Drive and Russell Road, where the driver ran off. Police say the suspect then carjacked a taxi and took off again, kicking off a second pursuit that stretched more than nine miles before ending near St. Rose Parkway and Bermuda Road. Metro said the suspect was taken into custody after a brief foot chase.
How Metro handles pursuits
Department policy calls for LVMPD air units to take over a surveillance role once they have visual contact with a suspect vehicle, while ground units are directed to slow down or fall back. Supervisors are authorized to end a pursuit if the danger to the public is deemed greater than the need to immediately catch the driver.
Metro’s publicly available reports describe containment tactics, including what officers refer to as a "bubble," that can be used once a fleeing vehicle is being tracked from above. Supervisors are required to continually evaluate safety during a pursuit, which is one reason the department frequently leans on helicopter support in high-speed situations.
Local pattern and national data
Friday’s chase fits into a run of high-profile pursuits in the valley this year. A similar early-morning carjacking pursuit was reported in February in a pre-dawn carjacking chase that also ended with a suspect in custody.
Nationally, the Council on Criminal Justice has reported a sharp drop in carjackings in 2025, but incidents like this remain a high-risk flashpoint for drivers, passengers and anyone nearby on sidewalks or roadways.
Metro did not immediately release the suspect’s name in its initial statement and has not yet detailed any potential charges. Investigators say the case remains open and that more information will be released when it becomes available.
