Local news briefs for June 6, 2000

Tuesday, June 6, 2000 | 11:36 a.m.

Las Vegas man sought in killing

Metro Police homicide detectives searching for a 31-year-old Las Vegas man in connection with the May 13 home invasion that ended with the resident killing one of the intruders.

Warrants are on file charging Carlos Coello with murder, robbery with a weapon, kidnapping with a weapon and home invasion with a weapon.

Coello is accused of being one of two robbers who broke into a home in the 900 block of North Iron Wood Drive about 6:45 a.m. on May 13. He and Yosvani R. Lopez, 24, of Las Vegas are accused of pistol whipping the male and female residents of the house and tieing both of them up, police said.

The male resident was able to free himself with a knife and confronted Lopez while the other robber was taking items out of the house. The resident stabbed Lopez, who died from the wounds, police said.

Anyone with information on Coello's whereabouts is asked to called Metro's homicide unit at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Man found dead identified

A man found dead Saturday on a second-floor walkway at an east side apartment has been identified as 25-year-old Travion L. Hampton.

Hampton, whose hometown was listed as Los Angeles but who was thought to be a transient in the area, was found dead about 6:30 p.m. Saturday at an apartment complex in the 300 block of East Harmon Avenue. Witnesses told Metro Police detectives they heard an argument between two men and saw them fighting on the walkway, 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.

Inmate's widow sues over death

An inmate at the Clark County Detention Center died in custody when staff refused to give him medical care, according to a federal lawsuit filed by the inmate's widow.

Melissa White filed the complaint Monday in U.S. District Court alleging her husband, John White, died June 4, 1998, after suffering seizures a week after he was arrested for a parole violation.

John White suffered a seizure June 2 in his cell, according to the lawsuit, but jail staff refused to come to his aid.

Capt. Henry Hoogland, the jail commander, was not immediately available for comment this morning.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from the state, Clark County, and numerous jail officials and employees.

City removes illegal pay phones

Five illegal pay phones were removed Monday from downtown Las Vegas in a crackdown by the city of Las Vegas. Another five were to be removed this morning.

The Las Vegas City Council passed an ordinance that requires city permits for pay phones and prohibits them from being on public property, such as a sidewalk, or on private property without permission.

Notices were placed on more than 40 illegal phones, and most were brought into compliance by either being removed or by having a permit renewed.

The crackdown came after complaints from Fremont Street residents that illegal pay phones were being used for prostitution and drug dealing.