News briefs for Feb. 7, 2003

Friday, Feb. 7, 2003 | 9:36 a.m.

Bill covers kids left alone in cars

A state Senate committee Thursday passed a bill penalizing people who leave children alone in cars.

Senate Bill 17, introduced by Sen. Valerie Wiener, D-Las Vegas, makes it a misdemeanor to leave a child who is 7 or younger unsupervised in a vehicle.

The bill came in response to a series of deaths in Clark County involving infants who were left behind in cars during the summer.

Law enforcement officials did not charge the parents or caregivers of the children in those cases.

The Senate's Judiciary Committee passed an amended version of the bill stating that the misdemeanor charge would not interfere with law enforcement's ability to file more serious charges of neglect or abuse.

SB17 will now be considered by the full Senate.

Suspect arrested in man's slaying

Metro Police arrested a 29-year-old man Thursday in connection with the slaying of Malcolm Richards, who was found dead Sunday in his apartment on West Charleston Boulevard.

Police said Daniel Adam Vandusen was causing a disturbance Thursday at a McDonald's restaurant at Torrey Pines and Charleston boulevards and when police arrived, he made statements that suggested he may have been involved in Richards' death. Police investigated and found enough evidence to link Vandusen to the homicide.

Vandusen was charged with murder with a weapon and robbery. He is being held in Clark County Detention Center.

Woman killed in collision

A 43-year-old woman was killed about 9:30 p.m. Thursday in a crash on Industrial Road north of Tompkins Avenue, Metro Police said.

A woman identified by the Clark County coroner's office as Diana R. Santi of Las Vegas was heading south on Industrial in a 1990 Chevrolet Lumina when a northbound 2001 GMC Sierra drifted into the northbound lanes, hitting Santi's Chevrolet, police said.

The impact spun the Chevrolet 180 degrees, sending it southbound. Santi was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the GMC, Manuel C. Martinez, 22, of Las Vegas was admitted to University Medical Center in serious condition, police said.

No charges have been filed.

Fire in house believed to be arson

Las Vegas fire investigators believe a fire that damaged a northwest Las Vegas home Thursday morning was intentionally set to conceal a burglary.

The fire gutted the garage, and the kitchen and living room sustained heavy smoke damage. The damage was estimated at $50,000, Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

Firefighters dispatched about 7 a.m. to 412 Antelope Way, near Alta Drive and Rainbow Boulevard, brought the fire under control in about 10 minutes, Szymanski said. Fire investigators and Metro Police believe someone broke into the home, stole some of the resident's belongings and set the fire to cover up the crime.

Some residents have voiced concern that several fires have occurred on Antelope Lane in the past year. Szymanski said fire records show a total of eight fires occurred on Antelope Way between Westcliff Drive and Charleston Boulevard since Jan. 1, 2000. Three were building fires, and the rest were either vehicle or brush fires. Szymanski said investigators have no reason to believe the fires are related.

Fugitive arrested on rape charge

The Metro Police fugitive detail arrested a man Wednesday who was wanted in California on charges of raping a 16-year-old girl in 2000.

In April 2000 Victor Soto failed to show up for a court date and a warrant was issued, police said.

Wednesday, detectives received a tip and set up surveillance on a home in the 1100 block of King Richard Avenue, near McCarran International Airport. Detectives saw a man matching Soto's description leaving the house and they approached him. The man told detectives his name was Sergio Quantana.

Police said the man was acting suspiciously, so they asked if they could check his house for the fugitive. An officer saw a wedding photo of the man who said he was Sergio Quantana, but it had Victor Soto's name on it.

Police said the man admitted he was Soto.