News briefs for Feb. 24, 2003

Monday, Feb. 24, 2003 | 9:50 a.m.

Man killed in collision downtown

A 37-year-old Las Vegas man was killed shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday in a hit-and-run collision at 13th Street and Ogden Avenue in downtown Las Vegas, Metro Police said.

Samuel Cohen was heading west on Ogden in a 1989 GMC Sierra pickup truck when his vehicle collided with a 1988 Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck that was going north on 13th Street, police said. The impact forced Cohen's truck into a house at the northwest corner of the intersection, causing minor damage.

The driver of the Chevrolet pickup truck tried to drive away after the crash, but his vehicle was too damaged, police said. He jumped out of the truck and ran south toward Fremont Street. Several bystanders chased him, but they lost him around 13th and Fremont streets, police said.

Cohen died shortly after arriving at University Medical Center. His passenger, Stephanie Parrott, 27 was in fair condition this morning.

The crash is under investigation. Police contacted the registered owner of the pickup truck, and he is helping to identify the driver. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or Metro's traffic detail at 229-3535.

Meth explosion charges made

A man arrested in connection with a deadly explosion at a local methamphetamine laboratory will face charges in District Court.

A grand jury indictment unsealed Friday before District Judge David Wall charges James Michael Ansara in the April 5 explosion at the Rock Springs Apartment complex, 705 Rock Springs Drive.

Ansara faces multiple felony counts, including second-degree murder, manufacturing a controlled substance and drug trafficking charges.

Karter Rowley, who prosecutors allege was running the operation with Ansara when the incident occurred, died from smoke inhalation, Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Laurent said.

Had Rowley survived the incident, he would have faced criminal charges as well, Laurent said.

A twice-convicted felon, Ansara is already serving a one-to-three year prison sentence on an unrelated drug trafficking charge, Laurent said.

Prison guard's penalty reduced

A state hearing officer has reduced the penalty given a prison guard in Carson City for using profanity in front of a female corrections officer.

Hearing Officer Pat Dolan reduced the 10-day suspension without pay given to Donald Thorpe to one day and ordered Thorpe to get remedial sensitivity training.

"Profanity and crude language are commonplace in the prison system," Dolan said in a decision made public Friday. But, he said, disciplinary action is never taken unless somebody complains.

Engineer's office has centennial

The state engineer's office, which decides who should get permits to drill wells or draw water from streams, is celebrating its 100th birthday this month.

The agency was created in February 1903 to manage the state's water system.

The Nevada Water Resources Association plans to hold a dinner Wednesday in Sparks to honor the agency, current engineer Hug Ricci and former engineers Michael Turnipseed, Pete Morros and Roland Westergard.

The dinner is part of a two-and-a-half day conference sponsored by the association to talk about the drought in the West and other water issues.