MESQUITE, Nev. — An observant neighbor stopped an alleged crime and police ensued on a high-speed chase on Saturday afternoon. The man running from police died after taking his own life, according to the St. George Police Department.
At approximately 6:05 p.m., an alert citizen noticed a suspicious vehicle near Nelson Circle and Bloomington Drive, the department posted to social media. The male driver exited the unknown vehicle and attempted to break into a nearby residence when he was confronted a homeowner.
The suspect threatened the homeowner with a weapon before leaving in a vehicle that police found had been stolen out of Spanish Fork. The St. George resident and homeowner called 911 and relayed the vehicle description and license plate number to dispatchers.
An officer in the area located the vehicle on Interstate 15 near Exit 2 and attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver failed to stop and a pursuit ensued. Washington County Deputies joined and the pursuit crossed into Arizona and Nevada.
The suspect then carjacked a vehicle in Mesquite during the pursuit. After the vehicle was stopped, the suspect fled on foot before reportedly taking his own life. Mesquite Police Department is on scene and working with St. George officers on a joint investigation.
St. George Police Detectives are currently on scene at the original address investigating. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released by authorities.
UPDATE: At 10:30 p.m., Mesquite Police released a statement involving the critical incident that originated in St George.
Officers were pursuing a dangerous and armed felon who had just committed a robbery and a carjacking at gunpoint, the department posted to social media. Ultimately, the vehicle pursuit turned into a foot pursuit where officers were able to contain and stop the suspect’s movements in a desert area.
The suspect is deceased with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and all officers were reported as safe with no injuries.
“This is a large scene that will take officers some time to process properly,” the statement said. “We encourage the public to stay out of the area so officers can be proficient as possible. More details will be released at a later time.”
St. George News reporter Nick Yamashita contributed to this story on scene from Sunset Greens golf community in Mesquite, Nev.
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