Felon Who Shot at Metro Officer While Fleeing in Van Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison
Las Vegas, Nev. – A convicted felon who led Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officers on a high speed automobile chase in March 2011, and fired a gun shot at an officer along the way, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.
David Torres, 25, of Las Vegas, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Roger L. Hunt. Torres pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on January 13, 2012.
On March 15, 2011, a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officer observed a Red Dodge Caravan traveling at a high rate of speed in the northeast part of Las Vegas, and began to pursue the vehicle. The driver of the Caravan, later identified as David Torres, did not stop, and accelerated away from the officer reaching speeds of 80 miles per hour. Another officer, traveling in the opposite direction, passed the Caravan and observed Torres fire a handgun at him from his driver's side window. A bullet struck the officer's patrol vehicle on the driver's side front windshield door frame. The Caravan was eventually slowed down and Torres jumped out and ran away. When the officers caught Torres, a handgun fell onto the street. Torres resisted arrest, and injured and officer's ear while being placed into custody. When officers searched the Caravan, they located a female passenger in the van that was three months pregnant.
Torres has two prior felony convictions in Nevada in 2006 and 2008 for burglary and battery with substantial bodily harm.
The case was investigated by ATF and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cristina D. Silva. The case was screened through the Southern Nevada Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force, a team of federal and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors who meet on a regular basis to discuss arrests involving guns and explosives. Project Safe Neighborhoods, also known as PSN, is a Department of Justice initiative and a nationwide commitment to reduce gun and gang crime in America.
