Bodycam released from when the SWAT team fatally shot James Ryan in Elko during a stand-off
By: Two Elko SWAT team officers have been placed on administrative leave following the shooting death of a man after an hours-long standoff Wednesday night on Powder House Road.
James Ryan Jr., 45, of Elko was identified by Elko Police Chief Ty Trouten as the man who was killed by the officers several hours after another police officer witnessed a domestic violence incident at a car wash at Lamoille Highway.
About 5 p.m. Wednesday, a police officer at the Splash Truck and Auto Wash reported he heard a woman scream and saw a man battering her inside a pickup.
When the officer intervened, Ryan drove away, pushing the woman out of the vehicle. He fled on Stitzel Road toward Powder House Road and became stuck in the mud near the water tanks.
Elko Combined SWAT team and Elko Combined Crisis Negotiators were called in and engaged in several hours of negotiations with Ryan, who refused to be taken into custody.
He pointed a firearm at officers and was shot and killed by SWAT team officers, Trouten said.
The woman in the vehicle with Ryan was not identified by police. Trouten said she had minor injuries and did not require medical treatment.
The two officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, and the shooting is being investigated by law enforcement from Washoe County, Reno and Sparks agencies.
“Upon conclusion of the investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Elko County District Attorney’s Office for review and if any charges are warranted,” Trouten said. “An internal investigation will also be conducted to ensure that no policies and procedures were violated.
“The investigation is ongoing, with more details to follow once they become available,” Trouten continued.
The Elko Daily Free Press has requested police body-worn camera and police dash-cam video in accordance with Nevada’s public-records laws. Police had not yet responded to the records request by midday Friday.
Ryan has had several interactions with authorities.
In 2015, he was transported to the Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital for psychiatric evaluation after asking officers with the Western Shoshone Department of Public Safety to “kill him” following a traffic stop at Ruby Vista Drive and Golf Course Road when he was driving into oncoming traffic, reporting in the Daily Free Press at the time shows.
He was reported to have removed a stun gun from the holster of an officer, but was unable to use it and was subdued with pepper spray. Ryan was eventually booked on firearm, assault and drug charges.
He was booked into the Elko County Jail in 2020 on charges of robbery, coercion with force and threat of force and false imprisonment. Ryan was also arrested in 2022 on charges of felony child abuse, neglect or endangerment, and violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence.
He also was involved in previous civil cases, including landlord-tenant disputes and civil traffic infractions.