Tuesday, July 1, 2003 | 11:23 a.m.
Man pleads not guilty
A Las Vegas man who was shot during a standoff with police pleaded not guilty Monday to charges stemming from a string of robberies at local businesses, and he alleged that he was unarmed when police shot him.
During his arraignment before District Judge Lee Gates, Edward Everett Seely pleaded not guilty to 23 felony charges, including robbery, burglary, kidnapping and firearms charges.
Authorities say Seely, 35, robbed a Jiffy Lube on Charleston Boulevard, a 7-Eleven on South Torrey Pines Drive and a Burger King on South Rainbow Boulevard between March 2 and 13.
Police shot Seely March 14 at a northwest apartment complex. Seely, who was in a wheelchair during Monday's hearing, told Gates he was paralyzed from the chest down as a result of the shooting.
"I was unarmed when I was shot by Metro," he said.
Prosecutor Marc Digiacomo said police shot Seely in the chest after police allege he aimed a gun at them and stated, "The only way you're going to take me is to kill me.'
Seely's trial is scheduled to begin March 16.
Man injured in fireworks accident
A young man was seriously burned this morning while trying to light fireworks, officials said.
About 4:30 a.m., the man's clothes caught on fire while he was trying to light the fireworks with lighter fluid on Deer Lodge Lane, near Cheyenne Avenue at Fort Apache Road, Lt. Tim Szymanski, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue spokesman, said.
The man remained at the University Medical Center burn unit this morning with second-degree burns over 75 percent of his body, Szymanksi said.
The fire department refused to release the name and age of the man and additional details because the investigation is ongoing and because of new federal rules that restrict what had been public information in previous years.
In the coming week, the Africanized bee information hotline, 229-2000, will be used to provide safety information concerning fireworks.
Fireworks safety information is also available on the Internet at www.lasvegasfire.org. Click on the "Find It Fast" drop down box and click on Safety Information.
Worker crushed when trailer moved
North Las Vegas Police are investigating the death of a man who was working under a 20,000-pound portable office trailer when it was moved by the driver of a semi-tractor about 10:50 a.m. Monday.
The accident happened in a parking lot in the 3400 block of Kier Road.
Officers found a 22-year-old Hispanic man under the axles of the trailer. The identity of the victim will be released by the coroner's office after family members are contacted.
The man was crushed under one of three sets of tires on the trailer, police said.
Neither alcohol nor drugs appears to have been a factor in the accident, police said.
Man booked on vehicle charges
Henderson Police arrested a man Monday, charging him with felony hit and run, failing to render aid and failure to give information to police after a Sunday afternoon accident at Palo Verde Drive and Burkholder Boulevard.
Salvado Villegas, 47, turned himself into Henderson Police on Monday morning, and was booked into the Henderson Detention Center, officers said.
A 1987 white Dodge van traveling northbound on Palo Verde failed to stop for a stop sign at Burkholder and struck a 1998 silver Chevrolet S-10 pickup going eastbound on Burkholder, police said.
The driver of the Dodge fled on foot after the accident. Chevrolet driver Sandra Howard, 58, was taken to University Medical Center Trauma Unit for her injuries, officers said.
Police said the investigation is continuing and other charges are pending.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Henderson Police Dept. at 565-8933 or CrimeStoppers at 385-5555.
Suspect shot by police transferred
A man shot by police outside the Capri Motel last month was transferred from University Medical Center to a long-term rehabilitation facility, Metro Homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said.
George Thomas Murray, 42, will face charges relating to the June 5 case when he has recovered, authorities said.
Right now, however, "he's in no position to assist in his defense," Monahan said.
He was shot several times by police when he allegedly drove toward officers who were attempting to serve a search warrant for his motel room at 3245 E. Fremont St.
Police said the warrant was in connection with a drug investigation.
When Murray is released from the rehabilitation facility, he will be booked into Clark County Detention Center.
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