Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Jury selection continues in fatal Metro car chase trial

Crash location

Jury selection was continuing Tuesday in the trial of a former Metro officer accused of causing the death of a driver he was pursuing in a car chase almost a year ago through North Las Vegas streets.

Aron Carpenter is one of two officers who prosecutors say ignored multiple orders from a sergeant to stop the chase after they initially were unable to pull the driver over for allegedly driving under the influence.

Police said Carpenter's vehicle collided with the suspect's Honda Civic on May 19, 2010, near the intersection of Lone Mountain Road and Lamb Boulevard in North Las Vegas, causing a crash that killed 27-year-old Ivan Carrillo.

Carpenter, who was fired from Metro in March after having been on unpaid administrative leave since the incident, has been charged with two counts of felony reckless driving. One count of reckless driving was for Carrillo's death and the other count was for injuring Andrea Hottel, who was involved in the ensuing four-car pileup.

The other officer, Andrew Ubbens, pleaded no contest in January to a misdemeanor reckless driving charge and was fined $500 and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service. Ubbens, who was also on unpaid administrative leave, has been reinstated during a probationary period.

Jury selection in the trial began on Monday morning. As of noon today, eight jurors had been picked. Attorneys and the judge are expected to pick 14 people for the jury, two of whom will be alternates, but will sit through the entire trial.

Testimony is expected to get under way on Wednesday and the trial is expected to last through Friday. Carpenter is expected to testify in his own defense, according to his attorney, Bret Whipple. The state will have about 15 witnesses, including several law enforcement officers who will testify for the prosecution.

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