Last Friday evening a series events caused a mass Sheriffs Office response in the area of Jumbo Grade in New Washoe City.

Initial Reports and Descriptions on Nextdoor Saturday Morning

Preliminary reports on Nextdoor by citizens reported a chaotic scene with a traffic accident at the corner of Douglas Dr and Eastlake Blvd at about 10pm.

Scanner Traffic Adds Details

Scanner reports stated the Washoe County Sheriff's Office responded Code 3 to a reported traffic crash at 9:51 pm involving a pickup truck and a smaller vehicle near Douglas Drive and Eastlake Blvd. A reporting party at the scene indicated that one driver may have left the area on foot while police were enroute.

At 10:18 it was reported a neighborhood search began for a 15 year old juvenile in the area of Cavatio Drive.

At 11:52 it was reported that Washoe units had three people at gunpoint during a vehicle stop and requested other units stage nearby. Units staged at the Jumbo Grade and Eastlake intersection, blocked the vehicle with a patrol unit and began removing the occupants. Other detentions were mentioned.

Sheriff's Office Issue Facebook post and Press Release

The text of the Press Release:

For Immediate Release

June 27, 2026

WASHOE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE PATROL VEHICLE STRUCK DURING SEARCH FOR FLEEING LARCENY SUSPECTS

On June 26, 2026, at approximately 9:50 p.m., deputies with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a vehicle collision at Douglas Drive and Eastlake Boulevard.

Upon arrival, witnesses reported that two occupants of the at-fault vehicle had fled the scene on foot. During the on-scene investigation, deputies learned the suspects had just stolen merchandise from the Chevron gas station located on Eastlake Boulevard before being involved in the collision.

Deputies immediately began searching the surrounding neighborhood with assistance from a Washoe County Sheriff’s Office HAWK drone pilot, who provided aerial support throughout the search. After deputies cleared multiple residences and outbuildings, investigators received information that the suspects may have been hiding near the gravel pits off Jumbo Grade.

Deputies saturated the area, and one suspect, identified as 29-year-old Gaylen Downs, emerged and surrendered. Downs was suffering from significant injuries believed to have been sustained during the vehicle collision and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. He was later cited for larceny and resisting a public officer.

While deputies continued searching for the second outstanding suspect, a vehicle traveling down the dirt road at a high rate of speed passed multiple parked patrol vehicles where deputies were actively searching the area. The HAWK drone pilot immediately alerted deputies on the ground to the approaching vehicle. Moments later, the vehicle struck an unoccupied parked Washoe County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle head-on near several deputies who were outside their patrol vehicles actively searching for the outstanding suspect.

Deputies contacted the four occupants of the vehicle and determined they were unrelated to the original incident. The driver, identified as 19-year-old Makaylie Briggs-Rowland, was arrested for driving under the influence (first offense).

Deputies continued searching for the remaining suspect from the original incident and ultimately located 21-year-old Nicholas Quinah Downs hiding nearby. The investigation determined Nicholas Downs was the driver of the vehicle involved in the original collision. Downs was taken into custody and transported to the Washoe County Detention Facility, where he was booked on the following charges:

• Driving Under the Influence Resulting in Substantial Bodily Harm
• Duty to Stop at the Scene of an Accident
• Resisting a Public Officer
• Conspiracy to Commit Petit Larceny

The coordinated efforts of patrol deputies and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office HAWK drone program helped deputies safely respond to this rapidly evolving situation and bring it to a safe resolution. This incident also serves as a reminder of the serious dangers impaired drivers pose to our community, our deputies, and everyone sharing our roadways.

This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch line at (775) 785-9276 (WCSO), referencing case number WC26-3523.

Sheriffs Dashcam video of the Collision

Editors Take: I can imagine a scenario where the collision suspects ran over the hill to the Jumbo Grade Trailhead where other kids were partying and those kids got spooked and tried to make an exit, hitting the patrol car. Don't know if that is actually what happened.