News briefs for July 11, 2003

Friday, July 11, 2003 | 9:42 a.m.

Man who died in police custody ID'd

A man who died after being taken into custody on domestic violence charges Thursday morning has been identified as Demario Love, 21.

Love began having "extreme cardiac difficulty" after he was pepper-sprayed and restrained about 4:20 a.m. Thursday, homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said.

A private security firm contracted by the Las Vegas Housing Authority was called to an apartment in the 1500 block of Harris Avenue to investigate a possible domestic disturbance.

When security officers arrived at the apartment, near Eastern and Washington avenues, they found a violent and combative man, Monahan said.

Security officers used pepper spray and handcuffed the man, then called paramedics and Metro. As Metro officers were helping him walk to the paramedic rig to get his eyes washed, Love began having cardiac trouble and was taken to University Medical Center, where he died.

The homicide unit is involved because it investigates all in-custody deaths, Monahan said.

Slain passenger in car identified

A passenger in a car who was shot by occupants of a sport utility vehicle while driving in the 2500 block of East Flamingo Road about 1:15 a.m. Thursday has been identified by the Clark County coroner's office as James Himan, 26.

Metro Police believe the shooting was drug-related and was the result of a long-simmering feud between the victim and others. The driver of the car also sustained superficial gunshot wounds.

Washington state fugitive arrested

Darrell Rautio, a fugitive wanted by Spokane, Wash., police on charges of sexual assault of a child, was captured without incident by Metro Police on Thursday.

Metro fugitive detectives set up surveillance at Tropicana Avenue and Boulder Highway, officers said.

Detectives arrested the suspect and he was booked into Clark County Detention Center awaiting extradition back to Washington.

Woman found in desert ID'd

A woman found July 2 dead in the desert off Deer Springs Way in North Las Vegas has been identified as 36-year-old Tammy Lach.

A man jogging in the desert found her body, police said. She died of multiple gunshot wounds.