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Carson City girl shaken by bizarre attack at community center

CARSON CITY — A 14-year-old Carson City girl who was taking a break from "The Sound of Music" rehearsals Thursday night at the Carson City Community Center, said she pushed away a man who "came out of nowhere" and jumped on top of her as stunned friends watched.

"I was kind of freaked out," the 14-year-old victim told Carson Now late Thursday night. "I just held my breath and pushed him off of me."

The unidentified man, who had led authorities on a car chase through town, was detained shortly after the attack by Carson City deputies. The incident began at about 8:30 p.m.

Witnesses inside the community center said the man resisted arrest, yelled something about "the kingdom of God" and was Tasered.

The man's identity has not been released and the case remains under investigation, Sgt. Mike Cullen said.

The victim and witnesses described the bizarre incident as happening quickly, with deputies taking control of the situation before anyone was seriously hurt.

The victim said she and her 16-year-old friend were sitting on the floor inside the community center, taking a break during rehearsal.

The pair were listening to the Jonas Brothers on an iPod, each sharing an ear bud, while their friend and fellow actress, 18-year-old Veronika Avitia, was reading a book, sitting directly in front of the two girls. The three were at practice for Friday's performance of "The Sound of Music." The teens play nuns in the Western Nevada Musical Theatre Company production.

That's when the victim said she saw the man, described as in his early 20s, running toward her, looking like he needed help. The man then jumped on top of her, and in a quick reflex, she pushed him off.

The 16-year-old friend said she then grabbed the 14-year-old and they darted behind the door into the theater. Witness Avitia said that's when deputies grabbed the man, who was resisting arrest and attempted to bring him to the floor. The man would not put his hands behind his back, and, officers tased him, "once or maybe two times," Avitia said.

"It was horrible and chaotic," Avitia said. "He was running down the hallway, like he needed help and then all of a sudden he jumped on top of her...Then I heard the officer yelling at him to get down. It happened really random and fast."

Both witnesses and the victim got a look at the suspect, and said he was about 5'9, with short hair, in his early 20s and wearing a bright T-shirt.

"He looked kind of out of it, like there was something wrong with him," the 16-year-old witness said.

After deputies detained the man, the children went back into the theater, composed themselves, and began rehearsals.

"We all went into the audience seat area and we just kind of sat there and waited," the victim said.

Witness Day Williams said the children, producers of the play and parents inside the theater were visibly shaken by what happened.

The unidentified man was given drug and alcohol tests and then taken to jail. He faces felony charges of reckless driving, eluding an officer and possible assault charges, Sgt. Cullen said.


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