Teens in stolen car spree hit two bicyclists, including retired police chief

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Las Vegas police said another bicyclist was hit by two teens in a stolen car before they plowed into a retired California police chief who was also riding his bike in a now viral video captured by one of the suspects.

Lt. Jason Johansson with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department called the first hit-and-run an “attempted murder” that happened around 5:30 a.m. on Aug. 14 by the intersection of Washburn and Fort Apache.

The 72-year-old man was in a designated bike lane when he was intentionally struck by a stolen car with two teens, according to police.

“I was going to get fuel in my truck before going to work and I saw the vehicle and the police officers,” a neighbor who only wanted to be identified as George G. said. “The bike was mangled basically from the seat in a 90-degree bow. The gentleman was standing talking to the police officers.”

Police said the 72-year-old bicyclist survived and had non-life-threatening injuries.

The incident is one of at least four stolen cars the teens are suspected of using during a crime spree on Aug. 14, according to police.

Lt. Johansson revealed the timeline of the teen’s actions during a news conference Tuesday when updating the community about the murder of Andreas Probst. The 64-year-old was hit and killed by a car while riding his bicycle in a designated bike lane around 6 a.m. on Tenaya Way and Centennial Parkway on Aug. 14.

Police arrested a second teen on Tuesday. Officers suspect him of being the passenger who filmed the disturbing video of the stolen Hyundai intentionally striking Probst. Police arrested the suspected driver, a 17-year-old, the day of the murder. Due to their age, police cannot identify them, but the teens will face murder charges, Lt. Johansson said.

“In the criminal justice system, if you are a minor and you are eligible to be charged with the crime of murder, you are automatically sent to the adult system,” Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said. “I am confident that that is what is going to happen in this case.”

Police said the teen arrested Tuesday was the driver of the car that hit the 72-year-old, and the 17-year-old was the passenger.

Police said after hitting two bicyclists, the teens were also involved in a crash by Lake Mead and Torrey Pines with two other stolen cars.

Metro Police have so far recovered the cars from the crash and the car that hit Probst but have not been able to identify the car that hit the 72-year-old.

“We believe we have four stolen vehicles involved in this incident,” Lt. Johansson said. “Of the four, three of those vehicles have been identified and have been recovered. We’re still trying to identify the vehicle involved in the first hit and run involving the bicyclist.”