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John David Schulze

Age : 43

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 11/16/2021

Location : Tillman Lane and Patricia Drive

City : Gardnerville Ranchos

County : Douglas

State : Nevada

Agency : Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Officer(s) :Unknown

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Passenger killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

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REASON WHY PURSUIT WAS INITIATED:
At approximately 4:45 p.m., a Douglas County Sheriff’s deputy recognized a Jeep Cherokee and its driver as a person authorities had been seeking for approximately two weeks on an Oregon felony parole violation. The Jeep had approached the deputy’s patrol vehicle at high speed and nearly struck it before turning away. The deputy subsequently located the Jeep on neighborhood streets and attempted to stop it.
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EVENT NARRATIVE:
On 11/16/2021, at approximately 4:45 p.m., a Douglas County Sheriff’s deputy encountered the Jeep near Blue Rock and Lyle in Gardnerville Ranchos. After the driver realized the deputy had spotted him, he made a U-turn, traveled north on Robin and then west on Kimmerling. The deputy followed and police escalated a pursuit through the residential neighborhood.
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During the pursuit, the deputy lost sight of the Jeep around the Kimmerling Way curve before locating it again along Robin. A witness saw the Jeep roll completely over and land back on its wheels. The deputy stopped, exited the patrol vehicle and drew his weapon, but the Jeep continued driving away and the deputy resumed the pursuit.
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The Jeep reached Patricia Drive and attempted to turn south onto Tillman Lane, where it struck a vehicle driven by a 19-year-old woman. The Jeep rolled several times, ejecting 43-year-old passenger John David Schulze. Schulze was pronounced dead at the scene. The 19-year-old bystander driver was transported to Carson Valley Medical Center with injuries, while the Jeep’s driver was airlifted to Renown Medical Center in Reno.
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Later court proceedings revealed that Schulze, a father of six, had gone along only for a quick trip to a 7-Eleven. During the pursuit, Schulze was on the telephone pleading with the driver to pull over and stop.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES:
1 Fatality, 2 Injuries.
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DISPOSITION:
The driver, Blake Edward Thacker, pleaded guilty to attempting to elude causing death. On 03/21/2022, a Douglas County judge sentenced him to the maximum term of 8–20 years in prison for Schulze’s death. The officer was not charged for his role of initiating the fatal pursuit.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office did not publicly identify the deputy who initiated and participated in the pursuit.
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LITIGATION:
None found.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.recordcourier.com/news/2021/nov/18/one-person-dead-gardnerville-ranchos-collision/
https://mynews4.com/news/local/one-dead-one-injured-in-gardnerville-runaway-parolee-police-chase
https://www.kolotv.com/2021/11/17/fatal-crash-gardnerville-following-chase-with-wanted-suspect/
https://www.carsonnow.org/11/16/2021/douglas-county-investigates-fatal-gardnerville-crash-nhp-and-carson-city-asked-assi
https://www.carsonnow.org/11/17/2021/douglas-sheriffs-office-releases-more-details-gardnerville-pursuit-identifies-victi
https://southtahoenow.com/11/17/2021/details-released-fatal-douglas-county-chase-and-crash
https://www.recordcourier.com/news/2022/feb/08/parolee-pursuit-admits-culpability-passengers-deat/
https://www.recordcourier.com/news/2022/mar/22/man-killed-fatal-pursuit-pleaded-parolee-pull-over/