News briefs for April 5, 2002

Friday, April 5, 2002 | 11:07 a.m.

Gallery features Goodman images

Las Vegas' mayor-turned-actor now has an art exhibit based entirely on his likeness.

The Arts Factory on Saturday will hold a reception to celebrate the opening of "Oscart," an exhibition of paintings and drawings depicting Mayor Oscar Goodman's visage.

Goodman has been filmed for movies including "Ocean's 11" and "Rush Hour II" but ended up on the cutting room floor. He has appeared in several other films.

Goodman said he hoped the exhibit would draw more people downtown.

"Oscart" features work by artists Michael Lawrence, Jerry Misko, Michael Wardle, Dar Freeland and other prominent local artists. A show of area high school students will also be part of the display.

The reception will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Arts Factory, 101-109 E. Charleston Boulevard. For more information call 676-1111.

Teen arrested in hit-and-run

A 17-year-old Las Vegas boy was arrested Thursday in connection with an accident in which a 59-year-old pedestrian was struck by a speeding motorcycle Wednesday.

The teen was booked into the Clark County juvenile jail Thursday on a felony hit and run charge. His name was not released by police because he was charged as a juvenile.

June Sembrat was listed in serious condition this morning after being struck as she tried to cross Spring Mountain Road near Torrey Pines Drive Wednesday about 2 p.m. She was not in a crosswalk, police said.

The drivers of two motorcycles failed to stop and fled westbound, police said.

Court asked to reconsider

Former state investigator Mike Anzalone Thursday asked the Nevada Supreme Court to reconsider its decision tossing out his defamation and wrongful termination lawsuit against Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa.

Anzalone's lawyers, in papers filed with the high court, said the justices erred by dismissing the case before it had a chance to go to trial.

The Supreme Court last month ruled that Anzalone failed to substantiate his claim that Del Papa forced him to resign because he refused to participate in a secret intelligence probe of top gaming regulators.

Car strikes teen in crosswalk

A 13-year-old pedestrian crossing Buffalo Drive at Alta Drive was struck and killed Thursday, becoming the 33rd traffic fatality this year, Metro Police said.

Witnesses and evidence at the scene indicated that Brandon Allen Crouch, 13, was on the northeast corner of the intersection, attempting to cross Buffalo westbound, police said.

A 2001 Mazda Tribute sports utility vehicle was northbound on Buffalo in the left of three lanes. Crouch was struck by the Mazda and knocked to the ground. He was taken to University Medical Center, but died shortly after arrival.

Crouch and another pedestrian were in a marked crosswalk, but attempted to cross Buffalo against a "Don't Walk" signal, Police said.

Cop placed on leave

A Metro Police narcotics detective is on paid administrative leave after getting into an accident in his police-issued car and being arrested on driving under the influence charges over the weekend.

Detective Shane Witham, 33, an officer since August 1993, was arrested by a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper after an accident about 4:30 a.m. Saturday on U.S. 95 at Summerlin Parkway, police said.

Witham apparently tried to exit the highway, lost control and spun out when he turned the wheel too sharply trying to correct. He then swiped another car, police said.

Witham, who was driving his police-issued undercover car, had a blood-alcohol level measured at 0.17, police said. A driver is considered intoxicated with a blood-alcohol level of 0.10 in Nevada.

Witham was not injured in the crash. The other driver had minor injuries, police said.

Man killed at bus stop

A man was shot and killed this morning on the Strip after he got into an argument.

The man, whose name was not released this morning, was standing at a bus stop about 5 a.m. on Las Vegas Boulevard South and Sahara Avenue when a group of men came by, Metro Police said.

The man got into an argument with someone in the group, and at some point one of the men in the group shot and killed him, police said.

The group then walked off, police said.

Rider falls, then struck by van

A 59-year-old man was killed early Wednesday morning when he lost control of his motorcycle and was then struck by a van.

Edward Richard Andrews was leaving the Blue Diamond Saloon, 6935 Blue Diamond Road, just after midnight, Nevada Highway Patrol officials said.

Andrews was trying to cross Blue Diamond near Rainbow Boulevard when he went down on his motorcycle and was then hit by a van.

The accident remains under investigation.

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