Man fleeing cops runs through community center

A Carson City man remained in jail Friday morning after leading police on a car chase, then jumping out of his truck and fleeing into a crowd of teens Thursday night at the Community Center.

Jory Robert McCulley, 20, a retail clerk from Carson City, was booked Thursday night into the Carson City Jail on suspicion of eluding police, speeding and reckless driving.

The incident began just before 8:30 p.m. when Alternative Sentencing Officer Justin Ryba allegedly spotted McCulley run a red light at Carson and Musser streets.

As soon as Ryba activated his overhead lights, McCulley turned east on Telegraph Street, came to a screeching halt and jumped out, said Ryba.

But within moments, the officer said, McCulley jumped back into his truck and took off toward Roop Street.

Once on Roop, McCulley turned into the northwest parking lot in front of the Community Center and jumped out of his vehicle as it continued to roll. The vehicle came to rest against the steps.

Sisters Veronika and Adriana Avitia, ages 18 and 16, and a 14-year-old friend were taking a break from rehearsals for the "Sound of Music" when McCulley ran into the east doors. At first they thought he was running toward them, then they saw the police officer he was running away from.

As McCulley ran past, he grabbed the 14-year-old girl from behind as if to shield himself from the officer, said Veronika.

"He looked really panicked and he just comes in and jumps on my friend," said Adriana. "We're not sure what he was doing, it looked like he was going to bite her."

The girl was able to push McCulley off and she and Adriana hid behind the stage door, said Adriana.

Veronika said she was stunned, unable to move, as an officer grabbed McCulley.

"It was like the scariest moment of our life. It was insane," she said.

Ryba said by the time he got inside, Deputy Craig Erven was struggling with McCulley on the hallway floor. Ryba joined in and as McCulley attempted to fend off the two officers, he was tasered twice and eventually handcuffed.

Ryba said McCulley was yelling, "I'm Jesus Christ. I'm not from this world. You guys think in the box. I think outside the box!"

The Avitia sisters were able to laugh about it Friday morning as they recounted the incident, but at the time there was nothing funny. Veronika said she couldn't stop crying for the remainder of the rehearsal.

"It was the weirdest night, it was so scary. He just comes running in out of nowhere. He looked like he was on some kind of drugs or he was drunk," said Adriana. "I thought we were going to die."

A blood draw was taken to determine if McCulley was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The results were not available. Further charges could be pending.

McCulley, a 2008 graduate of Carson High, is being held on $10,000 bail.