ELKO, Nevada, Aug. 28, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — An Elko man was arrested after he fled from police in a vehicle, drove it into a pond, stripped, then refused to get out of the water.
A Facebook post from Elko Police Department said the suspect, 29-year-old Jace Cooper Thompson, was arrested for numerous charges, including possession of stolen property, eluding and controlled substance violations.
The post said on Friday, Aug. 23 at approximately 12:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to Cinema 6, a movie theater at 1145 Connolly Drive in Elko, for a stolen vehicle report.
The victim stated that from the lobby of the theater he saw someone drive away in his 1993 Jeep Cherokee, the post said.
Approximately two hours later, officers were advised the vehicle had been located at the Mountain City Highway McDonald’s.
“Officers attempted to make a traffic stop,” the post said. “The driver failed to yield and led officers on a low speed 35 mph pursuit. The suspect vehicle left the city headed toward Spring Creek, accelerating to speeds in excess of 70 mph.”
Elko County Sheriff’s deputies joined the chase.
The vehicle drove through the town of Lamoille and turned right at the T intersection adjacent the Lamoille Church, the post said.
“The driver missed a corner and drove the vehicle into a pond, completely submerging it,” the post went on. “The driver exited the vehicle, naked. And refused to come out of the pond.”
After approximately one hour of negotiations, deputies and officers convinced Thompson to surrender and he was taken into custody.
