A 45-year-old man with a felony fugitive warrant led Carson City sheriff’s deputies in a vehicle pursuit Friday that stretched into the downtown area before the suspect was hit head-on by a patrol vehicle in an attempt to stop him, according to a Carson City Sheriff’s Office booking report.
Christian Chapman Hellwig of Citrus Heights Calif., was taken into custody in the area of East 5th and South Plaza streets following the pursuit, which included the Carson Mall parking lot. The pursuit ended when a deputy drove directly into the suspect’s vehicle. The deputy was not injured.
Hellwig was booked for the felony fugitive from justice warrant alleging assault with a deadly weapon, out of Placer County, Calif. He was also booked into Carson City Jail for suspicion of felony evading, eluding and failing to stop, endangering people and resisting an officer. His bail was set at $250,000.
According to the booking report, deputies were informed of the warrant at around 2:30 p.m. and learned the suspect was driving a Toyota Corolla with California plates.
A deputy was traveling eastbound on Fairview Drive approaching I-580 and observed a vehicle matching the description traveling westbound. The deputy conducted a U-turn and followed the vehicle, getting behind it and confirming the plate was the suspect vehicle, according to the booking report.
The deputy followed the vehicle, which made a sudden lane change, turning south on Silver Sage. The deputy continued to follow the vehicle south on Silver Sage. The vehicle turned east onto Colorado Street and then turned north onto Utah Street, the report states.
At that point, the deputy believed the suspect knew he was being followed and might attempt to evade. After the turn onto Utah Street, the vehicle began to make a U-turn. The deputy activated their emergency lights and stopped the vehicle and made contact with the driver asking his name, which the suspect replied “Christian Chanse,” an alias name. The deputy asked him to exit the vehicle. The suspect asked why and the deputy told him there was a warrant for his arrest, the report states.
The suspect waited, attempted to fasten his seatbelt and turned the vehicle on, attempting to flee in the vehicle. However the vehicle began moving slowly and he was unable to accelerate. Due to him being wanted for a felony crime and attempting to flee and not knowing if he was in possession of a weapon and no other deputies present, the officer drew their firearm, the report states.
The deputy gave the man commands to exit, but the suspect began to yell and refused to exit. The officer opened the door and continued to give commands, however, he continued to yell at the deputy and refused to exit. The officer holstered his firearm and drew his taser, the report states.
Due to the man continuing to resist and attempting flee, the officer pointed the taser at the suspect. As soon as the deputy pointed, the suspect attempted to grab the taser. The officer deployed the taser and noticed only one dart made positive contact with his upper body area, the report states.
The suspect continued to resist and the officer deployed the taser again. Although tased, the man managed to put the vehicle in drive and drive off northbound on Utah Street, the report states.
The deputy returned to their vehicle and began to pursue the suspect, who began to travel north on Silver Sage Drive. The deputy got behind him as the driver went against traffic to turn west onto Fairview Drive. The deputy continued to pursue, with speeds up to 60 mph in a 25 mph zone, according to the report.
The suspect turned north onto Stewart Street and then entered the Carson Mall parking lot. The suspect then drove around the west side of a store going around 25 mph. The deputy notes that people were present in the parking lot and walking to and from their vehicles.
The deputy observed one person having to run across the parking lot because the suspect was driving toward them. The deputy began to slow down due to pedestrians. The suspect vehicle began to pull away, creating a distance between the deputy patrol vehicle, the report states.
The suspect then exited the parking lot and traveled north on Carson Street and then east on 5th Street. The suspect attempted to enter the south end of the legislative building but then made a U-turn, the report states.
The deputy drove head-on into the suspect in an attempt to get him to stop, colliding with the front right side of the suspect vehicle. The suspect attempted to drive off but was blocked by a CCSO sergeant, the report states.
The suspect was cuffed and taken into custody. Due to him being tasered, the deputy requested Carson City Fire Department to respond and evaluate the suspect. The suspect was taken to a vehicle for transport. However the man began to resist deputies and would not allow himself to be placed in the back seat, the report states. The man was taken to the ground. He continued to resist and was pepper-sprayed.
After a brief moment, he calmed down. He was evaluated by CCFD and was taken to a patrol vehicle for transport. However, the suspect resisted and refused to enter the vehicle, raising his legs to prevent being placed inside. Eventually officers were able to place him in the vehicle and he was taken to jail and then later to the hospital for medical clearance before returning to jail.
Hellwig was booked for eluding law enforcement, driving at excessive speed, driving against traffic, potentially placing civilians in danger due to his eluding and the felony fugitive from justice warrant. Bail: $250,000.
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