Washoe County Sheriff’s Office deputies and a K9 team captured a suspect wanted for the armed carjacking of a woman who was leaving the Burning Man event late Tuesday afternoon.
At approximately 4:00 p.m. on September 4, 2018, the victim approached deputies stationed in Gerlach and reported that a man had just stolen her car at knife point. According to the victim, she was just outside the Burning Man entrance when she stopped to assist a man by the side of the road. The suspect used a knife to not only threaten the woman but also a man who attempted to assist her. The suspect then stole her car.
Just a few minutes later, deputies spotted the stolen vehicle and a man fitting the suspect’s description in the area of Bruno’s Country Club. The suspect, still armed with a knife, attempted to flee deputies.
As deputies approached, the suspect refused commands to drop the knife. A Washoe County Sheriff’s Office K9 was deployed. The suspect kicked and beat on the K9 as deputies attempted to apprehend him. After a short struggle, deputies were able to successfully take the suspect into custody.
The K9 was uninjured and back on the job Wednesday.
The suspect has been identified as Tiago Steven Gomez, age 32 of West Hollywood, California. He is currently being held in the Washoe County Detention Facility on charges of Mistreating a Police Animal and Resisting a Public Officer.
Because of the location of the carjacking, the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting that investigation.