Criminal charges filed in case involving officer shoved off balcony

By Riley Snyder

Thursday, June 6, 2013 | 1:28 p.m.

A criminal complaint filed Thursday charges a Las Vegas man with attempted murder for allegedly pushing a Metro Police officer over a second-story motel railing Wednesday.

The Clark County District Attorney’s Office also charged Randell Overstreet, 55, with battery with substantial body harm and possession of a controlled substance, along with three misdemeanor traffic counts, stemming from the alleged assault.

According to a police reports, a female Metro Police officer attempted to pull over an unregistered pickup truck driven by Overstreet around 2 a.m. Wednesday on Mojave Road. Overstreet refused to stop and continued driving erratically for about three miles, eventually stopping on Fremont Street, where he got out of his truck.

Pursued by the officer, Overstreet ran up a staircase leading to a motel’s second story before turning and attempting to kick the officer down the stairs. Overstreet, who weighs about 265 pounds and is 6-feet-5, grabbed the 110-pound officer by the shoulders and, according to witness statements, violently pushed her off the metal railing, causing her to fall about 10 feet onto the concrete below.

Other responding officers observed Overstreet entering an apartment at the motel and set up a perimeter around the complex. Overstreet was found sitting in an adjacent motel complex, where he was arrested. Officers also found 0.3 grams of methamphetamine in Overstreet’s pants pocket.

The female officer was transported to University Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with a sprained back. Metro Police reports indicated the officer was unable to walk upright and was suffering severe pain from her injuries.

Overstreet was booked Wednesday into the Clark County Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in court at 7:30 a.m. Friday.