News briefs for Dec. 11, 2003

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003 | 11:06 a.m.

Motorcyclist killed in parkway crash

An 18-year-old motorcyclist was killed Wednesday morning when he crossed the median and drove into oncoming traffic on Summerlin Parkway just west of Rampart Boulevard.

Jared Dicus of Las Vegas was heading west at a high rate of speed about 10:30 a.m. on a Kawasaki Ninja when he crossed into the eastbound lanes, causing two cars to collide, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper John Cunag said.

Dicus suffered head trauma and was taken to University Medical Center, where he died.

He was wearing a helmet and was licensed to drive a motorcycle, Cunag said. The cause of the crash appears to be excessive speed, he said.

A portion of Summerlin Parkway was closed for three hours as troopers investigated the crash.

NHP has handled seven fatal motorcycle crashes this year, Cunag said.

Comedian a flop in fish tank

A comedian pulling a publicity stunt was issued a citation by Metro Police Wednesday night after jumping into a large fish tank at the Rainforest Cafe inside MGM Grand, according to his employer.

Jeff Beacher, 28, announced he was going to carry out the publicity stunt after the Billboard Music Awards to create a buzz for his new comedy show opening soon at the Hard Rock Hotel.

As local television crews and reporters looked on, Beacher, donning a white Speedo bathing suit, belly-flopped into the fish tank, Alissa Kelly, noted in a press release issued by the Hard Rock.

Metro Police were called shortly before 9 p.m. and issued two citations for creating a disturbance. Metro Police spokesman Jose Montoya didn't know and said he couldn't find out this morning to whom those citations were issued and what the citations were for.

Teacher waives extradition to Texas

The private school teacher arrested on child sex abuse charges stemming from a previous teaching job in Texas waived his extradition on Wednesday before a Las Vegas Justice of the Peace.

Christopher James Williams, 31, agreed not to fight his extradition to Texas during a fugitive hearing before Justice of the Peace Douglas Smith, Clark County prosecutor J. Charles Thompson said.

Williams, 31, will be taken back to Texas within 30 days to face five felony counts, including aggravated sexual assault with a child under 14.

Authorities say Williams was working as an athletic director, a physical education teacher and soccer and flag football coach at Alexander Dawson School at Desert Inn Road near the Las Vegas Beltway.

Houston authorities had issued arrest warrants for Williams after he allegedly sexually abused students while working at a school in Texas. He had worked at that school for five years.

Authorities said there was no evidence to suggest that Williams had committed any crimes in the Las Vegas Valley.

County inmates found on website

The Clark County Detention Center has launched a new website at which citizens can find out if a person is an inmate at the facility.

The database can be accessed at www.accessclarkcounty.com/Detention]Center/ccdcWelcome.htm

Searches can be done by name, inmate number or justice court case number. The system gives the inmates' charges, bail amount, release status, arrest date, identification number and other information.

The system is intended to help victims, relatives, attorneys and bondsmen to determine the status of an inmate.