Las Vegas man who led police on chase in box truck was wanted for prior gun-related incident: ‘I’m going to be on the news’

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — A man wanted for allegedly pointing a gun and threatening a woman later led police on a chase in a box truck officers said he was living in, documents said.

At around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, dispatchers received a call from a person who said a woman was beaten and kidnapped outside of an indoor swap meet in the 4500 block of East Charleston Boulevard near Lamb Boulevard, documents said.

The caller told police the woman was screaming while a man, later identified as Michael Kopietz, 37, forced her into a large rental truck at gunpoint, according to an arrest report.

While driving to the swap meet, officers saw a truck matching the description of the suspect vehicle pulled over in a parking lot in the 4400 block of East Washington Avenue. Officers pulled behind the truck, turning on their lights and sirens and told Kopietz to step out of the vehicle, the report stated.

Kopietz ignored officers’ commands and drove off in the truck, leading the officers on a chase, which ranged from 25 miles per hour in neighborhoods to 50 miles per hour on higher-traffic roads, they said.

Kopietz drove recklessly through red lights, stop signs, and traffic construction areas while also swerving and driving into oncoming traffic lanes while officers pursued him, according to the report.

Approximately 11 minutes after the chase started, Kopietz hit another vehicle with the truck at the intersection of North Pecos Road and East Lake Mead Boulevard before crashing into a brick wall at the intersection.

Kopietz then attempted to run away from the scene before officers were able to take him into custody, police said.

Inside the vehicle, police found a large clear plastic bag containing a “white crystal-like substance,” which tested presumptively positive for 540 grams of methamphetamine.

The victim, who was recovered safely, told police that she and Kopietz, her boyfriend, were living out of the moving truck for several months and went to the swap meet together. When they attempted to enter the building through a backdoor, an employee told them they could not enter from that door, police said.

Kopietz then became angry with the victim and the two verbally fought before Kopietz punched her several times. He then forced her to the truck, saying “[expletive] you better go in the truck,” the report stated.

Surveillance video from the swap meet showed Kopietz pulling out a gun and pointing it at the victim’s face. Several witnesses also reported seeing him point the gun at her.

The victim told police that Kopietz was verbally and physically abusive to her in the past, and his “erratic behavior” was “normal,” according to the report.

She also told police that when Kopietz got into the truck he told her, “You really did it this time. I’m going to be on the news.” She then attempted to leave the truck, but Kopietz grabbed her wrist and would not let go.

Kopietz was wanted on charges of assault constituting domestic violence and domestic battery, records said.

On Dec. 31, 2023, police responded to a home for a reported domestic disturbance. A woman told police Kopietz had allegedly battered her for several days. Officers noted the woman had several bite marks on her body.

At one point, Kopietz allegedly threatened the woman at gunpoint, police said.

Police took Kopietz to the Clark County Detention Center, where he faces the following charges:

• Kidnapping in the second degree with a deadly weapon (domestic violence)
• Coercion with force or threat of force with a deadly weapon (domestic violence)
• Burglary of a business while in possession of a firearm (domestic violence)
• Domestic battery with a deadly weapon
• Assault domestic violence with the use of a deadly weapon
• Disobey peace officer, endangered persons or property
• Trafficking Schedule I-II controlled substance 400+ grams

Kopietz was being held without bail. His next court appearance was scheduled for July 24.

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