TV show to feature bar shootout

Keith Paul

Monday, Aug. 14, 2000 | 10:34 a.m.

On the season premiere Friday of the television show "America's Most Wanted," a re-enactment of the December shootout between an off-duty Metro Police officer and a robber will be broadcast.

Host John Walsh and the show's crew will be in Las Vegas this week taping the opening segment of the program, which features on-the-run suspects in the hopes that viewers will call with information.

In the Dec. 5 shooting at Mr. D's sports bar on South Rainbow Boulevard, off-duty Officer Dennis Devitte got into a gunfight with one of the robbers -- 19-year-old Emilio Rodriguez -- after two other robbers fired their guns at patrons. Six customers in the bar were wounded by bullets fired by the robbers, police said.

During the 19-second shootout, Devitte was shot eight times and Rodriguez was shot eight times. Rodriguez ran out of the bar but collapsed and died on the sidewalk. Two other robbers fled and are still on the loose. One of them -- 19-year-old Manuel Tarango Jr. -- has been identified and indicted.

The nationwide broadcast of the re-enactment may shake out some tips on Tarango's whereabouts.

"We are pleased that this is going to air on 'America's Most Wanted,' and we hope that it leads to the capture of the suspects," Capt. Greg Jolley said.

Since "America's Most Wanted" started in February 1988, show spokesman Avery Mann said, 621 fugitives have been nabbed as a result of tips generated from broadcasts.

"With 12 million to 15 million viewers seeing the show, we hope they can be helpful in providing information leading to the apprehension of the suspects," Mann said.

If some of the officers look familiar in the re-enactment, filmed a couple of weeks ago, that's because they are local cops.

Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Scott Beringer plays the part of a patron who pulls a robber off the bar during the holdup.

"I was excited to get the call for the audition because it's 'America's Most Wanted' and the fact that I can play a part that may help apprehend these dangerous suspects," Beringer said.

Devitte, who has returned to duty, was on hand for the filming of the re-enactment as was the band Pigs in a Blanket -- a group that has several Metro officers as members. Devitte did not act in the re-enactment.

The robbery started when three men rushed into the back door of the bar about 1:20 a.m. Dec. 5. One of the men tried to jump over the bar. Patrons grabbed the man and pulled him to the floor. Rodriguez continued inside the bar as the third robber shot a patron who was holding the other robber on the floor.

Devitte, who earlier this month was named Top Cop by the National Association of Police Organizations, pulled his .25-caliber handgun from his pocket and confronted Rodriguez after the other robber fired shots, police said.

Devitte -- who said during a Clark County coroner's inquest clearing him of wrongdoing that the two were close enough to shake hands -- fired at Rodriguez as the robber shot at him.

Detectives were told by Tarango's family in Las Vegas that he went to Mexico after the shooting. His family told police Tarango had a sick relative in Mexico, Sgt. Kevin Manning of Metro's homicide unit said.

Police know that two suspects fled the bar after the shooting and believe there may have been a fourth who was standing outside the back door, Manning said.

Seven off-duty officers were in the bar, including those in the band, but Devitte was the only one carrying a weapon. Metro regulations state off-duty officers are not required -- but allowed -- to carry a weapon when not working.