News briefs for April 27, 2001

Friday, April 27, 2001 | 10:53 a.m.

Trooper still in critical condition

A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper remains in critical condition today in the University Medical Center Trauma Intensive Care Unit, hospital spokesman Rick Plummer said.

Trooper Robert "Bobby" Kintzel, 30, was critically injured Saturday when he was struck by a vehicle near U.S. Highway 95 and Tropicana Avenue. Kintzel was trying to lay road spikes to stop a man suspected of stealing a cab and a sport utility vehicle.

A portion of Kintzel's brain was removed during surgery Monday. Doctors said it was too early to offer a prognosis on Kintzel.

Motorcycle cop has minor injuries

A Metro Police traffic officer suffered minor injuries Thursday when a car struck his motorcycle from behind on Interstate 15.

The accident occurred about 3 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-15 north of the Sahara Avenue exit, a Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman said.

The officer was knocked from his motorcycle. He was taken to University Medical Center, where he was treated for minor injuries, Metro spokesman Sgt. Chris Darcy said.

Traffic was moving slowly on the freeway at the time of the accident because of construction work and a large number of vehicles.

LV company in billing scandal

CARSON CITY -- An owner of a Las Vegas company that sold medical equipment has been charged with 15 felony counts of false billing Medicaid, the state attorney general's office said Thursday.

Rafik Safaryan, 54, owner of Master Medical Supply, is accused of charging Medicaid for supplying medical supplies to 15 patients. The patients denied that they received any equipment.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said authorities don't know where Safaryan is, though they believe he may be in Southern California.

Consumers to get written notices

Consumers will receive written notice if their drinking water contains arsenic, under an amendment to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

Sens. Harry Reid of Nevada and Barbara Boxer of California, both Democrats, introduced the legislation Thursday. The legislation would advise consumers if their drinking water contains arsenic at levels between 25 parts per billion and 50 parts per billion. The current limit is 50 ppbs.

After July the reporting limit would include arsenic levels between 5 and 50 parts per billion.

Reid and Boxer also called on the Bush Administration to set a new arsenic standard by June 22. President Bush delayed the 10 parts per billion standard, set by the Clinton Administration, as scientists review the analysis.