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November 24, 2009

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Accused cop killer bound over for trial

Friday, Feb. 20, 1998 | 4:11 a.m.

Justice of the Peace Edward Dannan ruled there is enough evidence for Siaosi Vanisi to stand trial for the Jan. 13 killing of UNR Police Sgt. George Sullivan.

Dannan's ruling came after hearing evidence during a preliminary hearing on Friday.

Vanisi also was bound over on three counts of robbery with a deadly weapon and one count of grand larceny. One of the robbery counts involves his alleged theft of Sullivan's weapon and ammunition. The other two pertain to two convenience store robberies he is accused of committing while armed with the officer's .45-caliber Glock handgun.

Sullivan's killing on the university campus triggered an intense manhunt unmatched in Reno history.

Vanisi was arrested the following day in Salt Lake City after a 3 1/2 -hour standoff with sheriff's deputies there.

Authorities said he had moved to the Reno area from Los Angeles only recently.

Witnesses reported Vanisi as saying he wanted to kill a cop in the days leading up to Sullivan's brutal death, police said in court documents.

Sullivan, 43,a 19-year department veteran who left behind a wife and five children.

Dannan ordered Vanisi held without bail pending trial, which has not yet been set.

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