Local news briefs for December 4, 2000

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000 | 11:33 a.m.

LV man killed in crash

A 34-year-old Las Vegas man was killed Saturday night after losing control of his car while attempting to pass other vehicles, Metro Police said.

Michael Spoonhoward was driving a Kia Sephia southbound on Eastern Avenue near Bluegrass Lane about 9 p.m., when the car slid sideways across northbound travel lanes and struck a curb.

The Kia slid up onto the sidewalk, into a street light, and crashed through a vacant desert area into a block wall at 2975 Bluegrass, police said.

The driver died at the scene. Failure to wear a seat belt may have contributed to the seriousness of his injuries, police said.

Elderly man dies in wreck

An elderly Las Vegas man was killed Friday morning when his car collided with an oncoming pickup in southwest Las Vegas.

Marshall Rayner, 70, was trying to turn his station wagon left onto northbound Rainbow Boulevard from eastbound Russell Road about 9 a.m., police said.

Witnesses told police that Rayner turned into the path of the pickup, which was heading west on Russell.

The force of the impact sent the pickup spinning into another car at the intersection, and Rayner died at the scene, police said. The driver of the pickup and the driver of the third car involved in the accident suffered only minor injuries.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the accident.

Human bones found in desert

Metro Police are evaluating what appear to be human bones found north of Las Vegas.

The bones were discovered Friday about 11 a.m. by a survey crew working in a desert area near U.S. 93 about 10 miles north of the Apex exit off Interstate 15.

The bones appeared to have been scattered by animals and maybe water runoff, police said. It appears that the bones may have been exposed in the area for a long period of time.

Help sought in finding gunman

Metro Police robbery detectives are asking for the public's help in finding an armed robber who preys on the elderly women.

The gunman approaches mostly elderly women but has accosted an elderly couple, and in all of the robberies the man carries a large blue steel semiautomatic handgun. The robberies usually occur as the victims are getting out of their cars at their homes, police said.

The robber is described as black, 30 to 40 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 180 pounds with a medium, muscular build.

Anyone with any information regarding these robberies is asked to call detectives at 229-3591 or Secret Witness at 305-5555.

Police arrest robbery suspect

A man wanted in connection with a series of armed robberies that started in September was apprehended Thursday night.

Michael Ray, 31, was booked into the Clark County jail on nine counts of robbery with a deadly weapon.

The most recent took place Tuesday in the Sav-On Drugs store on South Nellis Boulevard. Police chased the robber that night, but the robber escaped.

Detectives from the criminal apprehension team, the repeat offender unit and the robbery unit tracked Ray to a home on North Mallard Street. When officers arrived, police said, Ray fled and threw a .32-caliber handgun while he ran.

Ray was arrested about 11:30 p.m.

Donations for a family

that lost everything in a recent fire can be made to a bank account that has been opened. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank to the Alejandro Sanchez Family Benefit Fund.

The Salvation Army

wants to warn residents of two instances of possible fraud involving door-to-door donation collection. The Salvation Army never uses door-to-door collection or the telephone for holiday cash donations. If approached by someone asking for a donation to the Salvation Army, residents can call the Clark County coordinator's office at 870-4430 to confirm the solicitor is with the organization.

Beginning today

traffic on Range Road from Las Vegas Boulevard to the northern property line of the Nellis Air Force Base is restricted to military vehicles. All civilian traffic will now use the new by-pass routes of Sloan Road and El Campo Grande Avenue.

The Clark County Health District

has recalled Baron and Tasty Classic soups that have been distributed in discount grocery stores. The Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers not to eat certain canned soups imported from Canada because of the potential of contamination by a bacteria that causes botulism. Consumers with questions may contact the manufacturer at (888) 797-3210.

A lecture by journalist Gloria Borger

scheduled for tonight at UNLV has been canceled. Borger was to speak on "An Inside Look at Politics and Policy" at 7:30 p.m., but because of the ongoing uncertainty in the presidential race, she could not come. For more information, call 895-2787.