News briefs for February 8, 2002

Friday, Feb. 8, 2002 | 10:13 a.m.

13-year-old last seen with couple

Metro Police detectives are looking for a 13-year-old Las Vegas girl who was last seen on Sunday at an eastern Las Vegas supermarket.

Adriana Chavez is described as Hispanic, 5 feet, 4 inches, 120 pounds with brown hair and eyes. She has blonde highlights in the front of her hair, which was cut short in the back, police said.

She was last seen about 1:30 a.m. with a man and a woman at an Albertson's at the corner of Nellis and Charleston boulevards, police said.

The man is described as white, between 17 and 20, 6 feet, with a thin build, reddish-blonde dreadlocks and a goatee. The woman is described as white, 5 feet, 8 inches, with a medium build and blonde hair.

Anyone with information about Chavez is asked to call detectives at 229-2907 or 229-3111.

Homeless problem is addressed

The city of Las Vegas is teaming with Las Vegas Motor Speedway to benefit two needy groups and to promote NASCAR's growth.

Speedway Children's Charities and Mayor Oscar Goodman's initiative to help the homeless problem will benefit from the partnership.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway will begin asking local businesses to donate $10,000 in return for 1,000 tickets to the March 2 Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series. All proceeds will be split evenly between Children's Charities and the city of Las Vegas, which has formed a nonprofit corp. to funnel money to the homeless community.

Interested businesses can contact the speedway's office at 632-8266 for more information.

Metro probes downtown death

Metro Police are investigating the death of a man found in a downtown Las Vegas alley early this morning.

Officers were called to the 1300 block of Fremont Street about 3 a.m. after reports of a fight. Officers found a man dead in a nearby alley, police said.

There was no obvious cause of death, but an autopsy was scheduled today.

The man's name was not released this morning pending positive identification and notification of his family.

Police were looking for a man seen walking westbound on Fremont Street at the time.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Metro's homicide unit at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.