Suspect in chase faces attempted murder charges

By Glenn Puit
Review-Journal

      A wanted felon was charged with six counts of attempted murder of a peace officer after shots were fired at state troopers during a wild vehicle chase Saturday.
      Las Vegas police Lt. Wayne Petersen said James Seek, 50, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, also was charged with felony eluding, felon in possession of a weapon and several other traffic counts related to the chase. Seek is wanted in Idaho Falls for a probation violation related to a burglary charge, and police said he has previous arrests for resisting arrest and aggravated assault.
      Petersen said the events leading to Seek's arrest started at 8:10 p.m. when a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper stopped a swerving vehicle on state Route 160, just east of Pahrump. As the trooper was administering a field sobriety test, the driver ran off into the desert. At the same time, a passenger in the car slid behind the wheel, and the vehicle sped off, heading east on Highway 160.
      Other troopers started pursuit of the fleeing vehicle and at times speeds reached 120 miles per hour.
      "The vehicle accelerated, wildly passing vehicles and running several cars off the road," Petersen said.
      The car continued east to Industrial Road where another trooper was stopping traffic to clear the intersection. As the suspect's vehicle approached the intersection, the driver pointed a gun out of the top of the car, through the sunroof, and fired several shots at pursuing troopers. Petersen said the trooper at the intersection returned fire before the suspect's vehicle left the roadway and collided with a trooper's cruiser.
      Seek was arrested at gunpoint, and no injuries were reported. The man who ran into the desert was taken into custody on drunken driving and resisting arrest counts, Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Steve Harney said. That man's name has not been released.
      "The troopers showed a great amount of restraint in not shooting (Seek), considering what had happened just moments earlier," Harney said. "They all did their jobs very well."
      Petersen said a .357-Magnum revolver that authorities believe was fired at troopers was confiscated. The gun was previously reported stolen out of Idaho.