News briefs for March 5, 2002

Tuesday, March 5, 2002 | 9:30 a.m.

Metro Police are trying to identify a man who was shot to death and pushed out of a car Monday morning.

Officers found the slain man about 7 a.m. in the 3100 block of Vegas Valley Drive near McLeod Drive. The car, an older, large four door, gold or brown American model with Nevada plates, slowed as it pulled toward the curb and the man's body was dumped out, police said.

The victim was described as a Hispanic man in his early to mid 20s, 5 foot 8, about 200 pounds, with very short hair, a wispy moustache and a patch of beard on his chin. He had the letters E and S in Gothic print tattooed on his upper back. He wore a silver necklace with an charm that read "40 oz" and silver watch. He was wearing a blue and white football jersey with the number 28 on it, black jeans and white sneakers.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call homicide detectives at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Suspect sent to state hospital

A Las Vegas man charged in the slaying of a prostitute has been sent to a state mental health facility in Sparks so doctors can determine whether he is competent to stand trial.

District Judge Lee Gates decided Monday that Vornelius Phillips, 26, should be sent to Lake's Crossing Center for the Mentally Disordered Offender. Gates made the decision after reading reports from several psychiatric experts who visited Phillips at the Clark County Detention Center.

Phillips is accused of beating Ivy Jean Miller to death April 21 and, later that day, running down and critically injuring Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Robert Kintzel during a high-speed chase.

Phillips has repeatedly been taken out of Gates' courtroom for sometimes unintelligible outbursts.

Executive director resigns post

Polly Hamilton, executive director of the state Ethics Commission for more than a year, has resigned for personal reasons.

Commission Chairman Todd Russell said today that Hamilton "did a fine job for us and we're sorry to see her go." The job pays $78,000 a year.

The commission will meet Thursday to talk about filling the position. Russell said there is one proposal to combine the positions of legal counsel for the commission with the executive secretary. But he said that has not been discussed.

Hamilton, whose last day was Thursday, could not be reached for comment.

The Clark County coroner

is working to determine if a woman killed in an auto accident Monday morning may have died before colliding with a freeway ramp wall. The accident happened about 3:30 a.m. on the Ann Road overpass of U.S. 95, the Nevada Highway Patrol said. The driver, Bonnie Kaliher, 55, of Las Vegas, apparently lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a wall.

The restaurant worker killed

during an apparent robbery attempt Monday was identified as 37-year-old Raul Reyes-Romo. Reyes-Romo was shot about 2 a.m. Monday at the El Pollo Loco restaurant on Charleston Boulevard near Lamb Boulevard. He was opening the door for another employee, but saw a man with a gun and quickly closed the door. The gunman fired a shot through the glass door, hitting Reyes-Romo in the chest. He died at the scene. The killer is described as a Hispanic man, 5 foot 4, about 150 pounds and last seen wearing a dark sweatshirt, dark pants and a brown hat.