Quantcast
Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed

sponsored by
News


Brief escape may mean life term

Felon went running and shooting after slipping out of handcuffs

A felon who slipped from his handcuffs and tried to shoot his way to freedom last year was sentenced to 10 years to life in prison Thursday.

"I had a drug problem at the time. I didn't want to go to jail," said 32-year-old Leland Bryant, who added he's lucky to be alive.


Most Popular Stories
  • Traffic accident claims life of longtime, successful lawyer
  • Study urges Nevada and nine other states to take care in handling economy
  • NORM: Buchanan called 'larger than life'
  • Police serve search warrant at Hell's Angels clubhouse
  • Police serve search warrant at Hell's Angels clubhouse
  • THE FACES OF JOBLESSNESS: Family had to get help for first time
  • Second person dies after being restrained by police
  • NORM: Agassi reveals bad vibes with Shields
  • Cada wins World Series of Poker championship
  • Cada wins World Series of Poker championship
  • North Las Vegas motorcyclist killed in collision while racing, police say
  • Las Vegas police make arrest in 2008 slaying




  • "I'm real thankful to God that nobody got hurt," he said.

    District Judge Donald Mosley sentenced Bryant, who had pleaded guilty to eight counts of attempted murder, as a habitual felon.

    Cynthia Dustin, Bryant's attorney, said he has a long history of methamphetamine abuse and is now on medication.

    His previous offenses, which include larceny and auto theft, were not violent crimes, Dustin said.

    "This was an attempt to do a suicide by cop, and he reconsidered," she said.

    On Jan. 10, 2006, two bail bondsmen took Bryant to the Clark County Detention Center to have him booked on charges related to grand larceny auto.

    They had just parked outside the jail on Casino Center Boulevard when Bryant slipped a hand out of his handcuffs, according to police.

    "The bail bondsman set a gun down next to me, and my stupid ass picked it up and started shooting," Bryant said in court.

    He shot at the two bondsmen but did not hit them. They ran toward the jail with Bryant on their heels.

    When a corrections officer ordered Bryant to stop and drop the weapon, Bryant fired at him, police said.

    Bryant then entered a nearby bail bonds business, kidnapped and robbed two people at gunpoint and tried to steal their car, police said in their report.

    Backup officers arrived and prevented Bryant from escaping, but he opened fire yet again, police said.

    Bryant then forced his way into a nearby trailer home and shot at an occupant but once again missed, police said.

    The resident was able to take the gun from Bryant and escape.

    A SWAT team arrived and took Bryant into custody without further incident, police said.

    Bryant was booked into jail, this time without incident. He was initially charged with three counts of attempted murder of a police officer with a weapon and three counts of attempted murder with a weapon, police said.

    Bryant also initially was charged with three counts of armed kidnapping and three counts of robbery.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 0 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.