Tonopah, NV - Handcuffed Domestic Battery Suspect Steals NYE Co. Sheriff's K-9 UNIT WITH DOG - Escapes
March 26, 2007
William "Billy" Kennedy Kimsey, 32, was arrested and booked on a number of
charges by the Nye County Sheriff's Office (NCSO) in Tonopah at approximately 7:
15 p.m last Tuesday.
Kimsey had escaped from NCSO Deputy Puckett earlier that day at approximately
3:30 a.m., when he stole Puckett's K-9 unit patrol car while being arrested.
The car (a K-9 unit with no back seat) had Deputy Rex, a K-9, in a cage in the
back of the vehicle at the time of the theft.
The vehicle was found in the National Nine Motel parking area, abandoned,
after Kimsey's escape.
Puckett had been dispatched to the Deyoe Brothers gas station for a possible
domestic problem.
The deputy was in the process of arresting Kimsey and had handcuffed him.
Puckett sat Kimsey in the front seat and fastened his seatbelt.
The deputy then went to speak to the victim of the incident when he heard Deputy
Rex barking.
Puckett went back to vehicle, where he found Kimsey, who had unfastened his
seat belt and crawled over the passenger side of the seat, attempting to put the
vehicle in drive.
The deputy fought with Kimsey to regain control of the vehicle on driver's
side of the vehicle, but Kimsey floored the gas pedal.
Because the vehicle was positioned between a pole and the open driver's side
door, the deputy was forced to jump out of the way of the vehicle to avoid
injury.
Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo said the NCSO is in the currently in the process
of testing out anti-theft devices for the entire fleet of K-9 units, although
some already have them.
Kimsey was found by NCSO deputities through an anonymous tip that said he was at
a local house. Deputies found Kimsey asleep on the couch and he was arrested
without incident.
He was booked on two counts of unlawful escape, a second domestic battery
charge, obstructing a public officer, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle,
possession of stolen property, ex-felon in possession of a firearm, petty
larceny and assault with a deadly weapon.
The long list of charges tallied up to a total bail of $32, 315.