News briefs for April 5, 2001

Thursday, April 5, 2001 | 11:18 a.m.

Senior care operator charged

Metro Police detectives arrested an operator of senior care facilities, charging him with 22 counts of felony elder exploitation and allegedly taking more than $450,000 from one victim.

Richard Allen Smith, 48, was arrested on Friday after a lengthy investigation, on allegations of taking advantage of his position as the owner of Senior Connections LLC, a business operating group care facilities for senior citizens that can no longer care for themselves.

Police say that throughout 1999 and 2000 Smith targeted residents who did not have family or friends to conduct their business affairs. One victim had assets in excess of $450,000, which Smith allegedly took by forging the victim's signature, redirecting the victim's mail and adding his name to the victim's bank accounts.

In addition to the 22 counts of elder exploitation, Smith also faces 6 counts of burglary.

Woman dies in car crash

A 48-year-old Las Vegas woman died Wednesday night when she crashed her car into a concrete flood control barrier.

Carolyn Y. Spurlin was driving a 1993 Toyota Corolla east on Olive Street when she apparently failed to stop at the stop sign, traveled across Sandhill Road and left the roadway, Metro Police said.

The car went into a concrete flood drainage culvert and the car struck a concrete barrier, police said.

Evidence found at the accident scene indicates drugs might have contributed to the crash, police said.

Spurlin's death is the 22nd traffic related fatality this year.

A public hearing

will be held April 25 on a proposal by Clark County's business licensing division to revise an ordinance that requires employees who work in most casinos to hold work cards. The proposal would excuse service workers , such as waitresses and janitors,from getting work cards, but not employees with access to casino money and guest rooms. Only employees who work in casinos in unincorporated Clark County would be affected by the new law.

A 19-year-old Las Vegas woman

who apparently shot and killed herself after fleeing from Metro Police was identified as Elizabeth J. Mundy. Mundy's death was ruled a suicide by the Clark County Coroner's Office. Mundy was fleeing from a stolen car by jumping over block walls in the area of Darmak Drive near Valley View and Oakey boulevards Tuesday about 1:40 a.m. She was about to jump down from a wall when she saw officers in the yard. She then pulled out a gun and shot herself, police said.

A 34-year-old woman charged

in a fatal accident on Interstate 215 was released from the Clark County jail early this morning on $100,000 bond. Karen B. Morris of Henderson was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and three counts of felony reckless driving in connection with a March 25 crash on I-215 and Durango Drive March 25 that killed two people.

A Las Vegas man was arrested Monday

in connection with the shooting death of a 16-year-old last year. Erwin "Sleepy" Huerta, 18, was booked into the Clark County jail Monday on a murder charge. He is accused of the March 9, 2000, shooting death of Antonio Ramos.

Four wild horses

have been found shot to death in a remote area of southwestern Utah near the Nevada border. The National Mustang Association and the Bureau of Land Management are offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to those responsible for the shootings in the Gold Springs area, 20 miles northwest of Modena in Iron County.

After serving nearly a year

as the interim vice president of student life, Rebecca Mills has been appointed to the permanent position at UNLV. The appointment comes after a nationwide search, according to UNLV officials. In her post, Mills will be in charge of campus recreation, housing, community development, counseling and myriad of other student-related concerns.