Local news briefs for June 1, 2000

Thursday, June 1, 2000 | 11:41 a.m.

Man arrested in stabbing death case

A man who has spent three of the last five years in a Nevada prison for grand larceny was arrested Wednesday by Metro Police in connection with the 1995 stabbing death of a Las Vegas man.

Michael R. Ornelas was charged with the June 22, 1995, stabbing of 44-year-old Zvi Roth outside Loose Caboose Saloon, a bar near Rainbow Boulevard and Spring Mountain Road, Metro Lt. Wayne Petersen said.

"We received some new information, and requested that he (Ornelas) come in and talk with us, and once he did we arrested him," Petersen said.

Petersen would not elaborate on what the new information was.

In August 1995 Ornelas was sent to prison on a grand larceny charge and served three years, Petersen said.

About 10:35 p.m. on June 22, 1995, Roth and his wife were walking outside the bar at 3685 S. Rainbow when they reportedly encountered two teenagers. One teen reportedly yelled obscenities at Roth and stabbed him in the heart.

Evidence in homicide cases is basically kept forever, Petersen said, and getting new leads years after a homicide occurred is not uncommon.

State funding has been restored

Odyssey Principal Vee Wilson said the school received written confirmation from the Nevada Education Department that it will receive $250,000 to finish out the school year.

Citing deficiencies in attendance reporting and other complaints, the state previously threatened to withhold funding. Wilson said he will work with the state to ensure all of requirements are met.

Odyssey has an estimated 340-student enrollment and can accommodate up to 400 students. The school opened last fall.

Neighbors find woman slain

Neighbors worried about a woman they hadn't seen for days found her shot to death inside her home Wednesday.

The 47-year-old woman was found at her home in the 5100 block of Danica Way near Nellis Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue about 7:30 p.m., Metro Police Lt. Wayne Petersen said.

"The neighbors had gone by Tuesday and there was no answer, and on Wednesday when there was still no answer they went in and found her," Petersen said. "There was also a call to dispatch from the woman's mother, who was concerned because she hadn't heard from her daughter."

Detectives believe that the woman has been dead for at least a day. Her name was not released this morning by the Clark County Coroner's Office.

The woman was believed to be living with her boyfriend, who neighbors say they have also not seen in a while, police said.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Metro's homicide unit at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Thieves use car to break in

Henderson Police are investigating an early morning jewelry heist that involved crashing a car through the front of a jewelry store.

Police responded to an alarm at about 1:30 a.m. at the Tower of Jewels, 1405 W. Sunset Road, and found a huge hole in the front of the store.

Glass littered the parking lot in front of the small store located next door to an Einstein Bros. Bagels and a Port of Subs in a large strip mall anchored by a Toys R Us store.

"It looks like they drove a car through the front and then someone jumped out and smashed open a few display cases," Sgt. Patrick Moers said. "We're not sure how much they got away with, but it looks like it probably included some earrings and diamonds."

There were no witnesses to the crime, and anyone with information is asked to call Henderson Police at 565-2009 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Third officer added to unit

The Metro Police HELP Team is adding a third officer to its community policing efforts in Las Vegas' homeless corridor.

The HELP Team, or Homeless Evaluation Liaison Program, combines law enforcement with intervention to help connect homeless people and families with the services they need to get off the streets.

The team of officer Eric Fricker and officer Mark Misuraca work out of an office at MASH Village, 1559 N. Main St.

Another officer will join the team two days a week, working out of the HELP office, while working on other community policing projects the rest of the work week, Fricker said.