A Friday night in Washoe Valley, Nevada turned into quite the multi-act production for local deputies — one that featured a gas station theft, a hit-and-run crash, a drone in the sky, and, just when things couldn’t get more chaotic, a drunk driver plowing straight into a parked patrol vehicle for absolutely no reason at all.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle collision at Douglas Drive and Eastlake Boulevard just before 10 p.m. on June 26. Witnesses reported two people bailing on foot from the at-fault vehicle before deputies even arrived. Investigators quickly pieced together that the pair had allegedly stolen merchandise from a nearby Chevron before the crash — a busy evening by anyone’s standards.
With two suspects on the loose and a neighborhood to search, deputies called in aerial support from a HAWK drone pilot to help cover ground. After clearing several homes and outbuildings in the area, they received a tip that the suspects might be hiding near the gravel pits off Jumbo Grade. Deputies spread out across the area and one suspect, 29-year-old Gaylen Downs, eventually surrendered. He had visible injuries consistent with the earlier crash and was taken to a local hospital before being cited for larceny and resisting a public officer.
While the search for the second suspect was still underway, something unexpected added itself to the evening’s lineup. A speeding vehicle came through, passed the parked patrol units, and struck an unoccupied sheriff’s vehicle head-on — right near deputies who were actively working the scene. The HAWK drone pilot, still in the air, had actually spotted the vehicle approaching moments before it hit.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Wrong Decisions
The four occupants of the errant vehicle were contacted by deputies and confirmed to have no connection to the original incident.
The driver, 19-year-old Makaylie Briggs-Rowland, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, first offense. The patrol vehicle, fortunately, was empty.
The Original Suspect Caught Nearby
Deputies didn’t let the commotion derail the original investigation. They continued searching and located 21-year-old Nicholas Quinah Downs nearby. Investigators determined he had been behind the wheel during the initial hit-and-run crash.
He was booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility on charges that included DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm, failure to remain at an accident scene, resisting a public officer, and conspiracy to commit petit larceny.
Drone Technology Helped Keep Deputies Safe
One of the quieter stories within this incident is how the HAWK drone played a meaningful role throughout the night — first helping locate suspects in difficult terrain, then giving deputies a heads-up about the approaching vehicle before it struck. That kind of aerial awareness is increasingly common in modern law enforcement operations, and on a night like this, it mattered.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Washoe County dispatch at (775) 785-9276, referencing case number WC26-3523.