Pursuit and DUI investigation leads to the arrest of 2 Suspects
Sedona AZ (October 29, 2019) – On October 23, 2019, around 8 AM, a YCSO deputy was heading to the Village of Oak Creek area on Highway 179 about 2 miles from I17, when a white Range Rover drove in the lane occupied by deputy’s marked unit and two other cars. The Range Rover nearly caused a head on collision with the oncoming vehicles. It appeared the driver was trying to pass and this action caused the drivers of all 3 vehicles to slam on their brakes to avoid striking the wrong way driver.
The deputy turned around, activated his emergency lights and siren, and attempted to stop the vehicle. Instead of stopping, the driver of the Range Rover accelerated and began again passing several cars on the crest of a hill. The deputy estimated a vehicle speed of nearly 100mph as the driver continued to pull away while running cars off the road. Approaching I17, the vehicle continued under the overpass, onto Forest Road 618, and out of sight. The deputy continued along Forest Road 618 and eventually spotted the vehicle via the dust cloud created by the speed. When the dust cloud dissipated, assisting deputies gathered and began a search. About an hour later, deputies found the vehicle hidden amongst trees adjacent to the road with 26-year-old Andrew Nelson from the Village of Oak Creek sitting in the driver’s seat. Two passengers in the vehicle had disappeared and could not be located.
Deputies found open containers of alcohol in the vehicle and Nelson admitted using Xanax and Oxycodone while drinking large amounts of alcohol. Nelson resisted deputies as they placed him in the back seat of a patrol vehicle and remained uncooperative throughout the contact. He claimed the true driver fled the scene.
The initial urine sample results showed positive for various drugs including Amphetamines, Oxycodone, THC and Cocaine. Nelson was booked into the Camp Verde Detention Center on charges including Flee Law Enforcement Vehicle and DUI.
The identity of the 2 other occupants was discovered shortly after Nelson was booked and included 28-year-old Brett Lahr, a Village of Oak Creek resident. Deputies contacted him on the evening of October 23, 2019, at his home where he admitted driving the Range Rover and claimed he did not know deputies were following. Lahr described the clothing he was wearing at the time which matched descriptions provided by deputies involved in the investigation. Lahr is an unlicensed driver. Lahr stated that both he and Nelson had been driving the Range Rover with his girlfriend as a passenger, and again admitted he was the driver when traveling along Highway 179 towards I17.
Lahr was arrested and booked into the Camp Verde Detention Center on charges including Endangerment, Fleeing Law Enforcement Vehicle, and Driving without a license.
Both suspects have been released pending court action.
The patrol commander thanked deputies for their work in locating the individuals involved and getting both dangerous drivers off our roadways.