News briefs for August 8, 2003

Friday, Aug. 8, 2003 | 10:56 a.m.

Preparedness drill is set

About 75 city of Las Vegas officials, including Mayor Oscar Goodman, will attend a major disaster preparedness drill led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Emmitsburg, Md., next week.

FEMA has guided communities such as Las Vegas through emergency management courses since 1983 to address emergency responses for entire communities.

The training courses stress the integration of community functions, resources, organizations and individuals during any emergency. The training also includes responding to a simulated emergency.

Not guilty plea in sex assault cases

A Las Vegas man charged with sexually assaulting a female bicyclist and jogger in two residential neighborhoods in southwest Las Vegas pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and other felony charges on Thursday.

William Whitehead, 23, faces nine felony charges, including sexual assault, battery with use of a deadly weapon and first-degree kidnapping in the July 20 attacks.

Whitehead pleaded not guilty to all counts before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure. He is scheduled to stand trial on the charges Dec. 15.

Authorities say Whitehead attacked the bicyclist in the 9600 block of Spring Mountain Road in Spring Valley and attacked the jogger moments later in The Lakes area of Las Vegas, near Durango Drive and Desert Inn Road.

A Clark County grand jury indicted him on the charges late last month.

Bicyclist killed in collision with car

A 43-year-old woman riding a bicycle on Hualapai Way near West Charleston Boulevard was killed when she was hit by a car Thursday night, Metro Police said.

The victim, identified this morning by the Clark County coroner's office as Viola Sierra of Las Vegas, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Sierra was heading east on Park Run Drive on a Magna 18-speed mountain bike shortly after 9:10 p.m. She stopped at the Hualapai intersection, then rode her bike into the path of a 1998 Nissa Altima driven by Lenore Singer, 22, police said.

Singer was southbound on Hualapai and did not appear to be speeding, police said. She suffered minor injuries.

The cause of the collision appears to be the bicyclist's failure to yield, police said.