LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department provided an update on the murder of 64-year-old retired police chief Andreas Probst on Tuesday.
Deputy Chief Nicholas Farese and Probst's family held the meeting at LVMPD's headquarters. Farese announced that they had taken the passenger during the time of Probst's killing into custody hours ago into the Clark County Juvenile Hall.
Police first reported on Aug. 14 that a 64-year-old bicyclist, later identified as Probst, was hit and killed while riding his bike north of Tenaya Way and Centennial Parkway that morning. Probst was struck from behind by a vehicle that fled from the scene, police said.
Police said the driver was a 17-year-old juvenile who was speeding at the time and fleeing from a separate hit-and-run crash. Investigators said the driver of the stolen Hyundai was associated with other vehicle thefts.
LVMPD's Homicide Lieutenant Jason Johansson provided a chronological order of the vehicle thefts and other crashes that morning. Police said a 72-year-old bicyclist was riding northbound on Ft. Apache near Washburn and was struck by a car with the same suspects at 5:28 a.m.
This strike was also found to be done intentionally by police.
After striking the 72-year-old man, the two continue east on the other side of the US 95. They were spotted by a man driving a white Toyota Corolla near Azure and Tenaya. The suspects again intentionally struck the Corolla, only occupied by one man.
The man reported no injuries, according to police.
The two suspects continued to drive northbound on Tenaya, where they saw Probst riding in a designated bike lane and struck him while also recording the incident. Police clarified that the driver who hit Probst was the passenger of the hit-and-run at Washburn and Ft. Apache Road.
Police located the stolen vehicle involved in Probst's killing in the area of Craig and Rancho around 8:08 a.m.
Police were also able to find the driver of the vehicle as well and took him into custody. The passenger fled the area with a mask. However, police were able to identify him through other items of clothing and tattoos.
In an update on the case in late August, police said a new video had come to light that led investigators to conclude Probst's killing was "an intentional act." That video has since been shared widely on social media.
Tuesday, police revealed that the video was shared by a student to a school resources officer. Police did not identify the student's school during the briefing.
Homicide detectives took over the investigation, and the 17-year-old arrested in the case is now accused of open murder. On Monday, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said prosecutors are working to try the teen as an adult.
"I am confident that justice will be served in this matter once the investigation is complete and the appropriate charges have been filed," Wolfson said in a statement.
DA: Juvenile who intentionally hit bicyclist could be charged as adult
Community members gathered on Sept. 7 to honor Probst. He worked in law enforcement for 35 years and retired as Chief of the Bell, California Police Department.
Near where Probst was killed, Ghost Bikes Las Vegas placed a white "ghost bike" in his memory.
The goal of the flower-adorned white "ghost bikes" is to remind drivers to slow down and watch for cyclists, Ghost Bikes Las Vegas co-founder Pat Treichel told Channel 13 in a previous interview. Treichel added the bikes "seem to have a healing purpose for the family, just creating awareness and trying to humanize the rider."
"It was somebody's father, son, brother," Treichel said at the time. "They (Probst's family) made it very clear that Andreas would not want people sad or mourning over him. That might be out of our control, but they were in favor of the memorial. They hoped it would serve as a visual for other people to put the phone down, slow down, don't drive under the influence."
Probst was laid to rest on Sept. 9 in Corona, California.
Probst's daughter, Taylor, provided a statement during the police briefing:
Bear with me, guys, this is not something we’ve ever done before.
We are devastated by the senseless murder of Andy. Andy’s life was robbed by two individuals who did not believe that lives of others matter.
We believe that Andy’s murder is a direct result of society’s decayed family values and the strong effects that social media has on our youth. We, as a family, in no way feel that Andy’s murder was based on race or profession. It was a random act of violence.
We ask you to not politicize or use Andy’s murder to fuel political agendas or to create cultural wars.
Now, you are familiar with how Andy died, but let me tell you a little bit about how he lived.
He was a man of honor and integrity. He spent 35+ years in law enforcement and was a pillar in the community. He was the little league dad, an honorary member of Girl Scouts — shout out to Troop 149 — and he was always there for the various activities we would get into as a family.
His colleagues remember him as a “real-life PeeWee Herman.” He was a jokester, a prankster, and always had a way to make you laugh. His death should be treated in the same way he lived: with honor and integrity — and maybe a dark joke here and there. Oops — too soon? Is something that Andy would say.
We want to thank Las Vegas police department, the victims advocate unit, Las Vegas Ghost Bikes, and most importantly, our community and our families and friends. You have provided us with the strength and support to get through this difficult time.
We now ask District (Attorney) Wolfson’s office to take these crimes to the furthest extent of the law, as Andy’s death should not be in vain.
District Attorney Steve Wolfson was also at the briefing, saying that the case is at "Stage 2" in the criminal justice system.
"If you are a minor and you are eligible to be tried with the crime of murder, you are automatically sent to the adult system," he said. "I am confident that is what is going to happen in this case."
Anyone with any information about this incident is urged by police to contact the LVMPD Homicide Section by phone at 702-828-3521, or by email at homicide@lvmpd.com. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 702-385-5555, or on the internet at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.
