News briefs for July 11, 2001

Wednesday, July 11, 2001 | 11:06 a.m.

Store at Bellagio hit by robber

Metro Police detectives are searching for a man who robbed Fred Leighton Jewelers at the Bellagio Tuesday morning.

"The suspect asked an employee to open a case, and when she did, he pushed her out of the way and grabbed what he could," Lt. John Alamshaw said.

The robber then took off running out the nearby north valet exit off Flamingo Road, where a car was waiting, police said.

The robber is described as black, in his 30s, between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, and about 180 pounds.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call detectives at 229-3591 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Comments sought on pollution board

Clark County commissioners have scheduled a July 24 public hearing to accept comments regarding an ordinance that would allow the board to oversee air quality throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

The ordinance was introduced in light of Gov. Kenny Guinn's decision to kill the idea of creating an independent air quality board composed of local officials. Instead, Guinn designated the county as the sole regulatory agency.

Las Vegas officials agreed to send a letter to Guinn protesting his decision. The public hearing is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. in the County Government Center's commission chambers.

Kidnapped canine surprises master

The story of Dani the dognapped pooch has a happy ending.

George Pizinger said today that his Chinese pug surprised him by jumping up on his bed about 1 a.m.

Pizinger said he thinks someone must have put Dani inside the fence of his Las Vegas home and he simply came in through his doggie door.

He said there was no clue to the identity of Dani's abductor.

Pizinger, an 84-year-old retired car dealer, had been searching for his dog since a man came to his door on Independence Day, said the dog was his, grabbed him and ran away.

Pizinger even got second-degree burns on his bare feet chasing the dognapper down the street.

LV man charged in indictment

Seven men, one of them from Las Vegas, have been charged with operating a prostitution ring that ran a brothel out of an apartment near the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Thuan Hoa To, 35, worked for John Nguyen, 44, who ran a separate prostitution ring in Eden Prairie. To allegedly started his own ring, officials said Tuesday.

None of the men is in custody. The 37-count indictment is the latest in a series of charges tied to a 2-year federal probe dubbed Operation Jade Blade.