Sedona Police Tase Suspect After Wild Break-In, Car Theft, and Foot Chase

On Thursday, December 5, at approximately 8:51 p.m., Sedona Police Department officers responded to a report of a suspicious person in the 200 block of Northview Road. The individual, later identified as Nathan Andrew Nichols, a 28-year-old transient, allegedly threw a chair through the window of a residence, attempting to gain entry. During this incident, he suffered cuts and was bleeding.

Nichols fled the scene and shortly thereafter, at 9:03 p.m., another call came in from the 100 block of Northview Road. Homeowners reported that Nichols had entered their home through an unlocked door. Despite their attempts to calm him by offering water, Nichols accused them of trying to poison him. As he departed, he mentioned heading to Bashas’ grocery store.

Police arrived but were unable to locate Nichols initially. However, a third call at 9:25 p.m. reported a disturbance inside Bashas’ where Nichols allegedly assaulted a woman and shattered a bottle of bourbon. Store management directed him to leave repeatedly.

An officer later spotted Nichols running down Coffee Pot Drive and began a pursuit on foot. As additional officers arrived, Nichols cleverly doubled back, ultimately managing to enter the officer’s patrol car, fleeing the scene in the vehicle.

During the chase, he drove northbound on Coffee Pot Drive before attempting a U-turn that resulted in collisions with a street sign, a telephone pole, a fire hydrant, and a ditch. An Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper deployed a precision immobilization technique (PIT maneuver), halting Nichols’ escape.

After exiting the patrol car, Nichols fled on foot, prompting officers to deploy a Taser. A struggle ensued as he resisted arrest, but ultimately he was subdued and taken into custody.

Kahlil Alexander, a 16-year-old student from Sedona Red Rock High School, witnessed part of the chase and captured it on video. He described hearing frantic yells and the sound of approaching police cars. Alexander noted the intensity of the situation, recalling the loud crash as law enforcement pursued Nichols.

“There were lots of yelling and the man begging to not be shot while still running,” Alexander said. He later observed multiple police vehicles at the scene.

Following his arrest, Nichols was transported to the hospital for evaluation and treatment of minor injuries sustained during his initial confrontation and subsequent struggle with officers. He is now facing multiple charges, including burglary, trespassing, disorderly conduct, felony flight, theft of a vehicle, fleeing an officer, and several counts of criminal damage and aggravated assault. The investigation into his state of impairment is ongoing.