News briefs for July 25, 2003

Friday, July 25, 2003 | 11:23 a.m.

Burglars take safes from casino

Burglars stole three safes containing more than $40,000 from the La Bayou Casino early Thursday, Metro Police said.

The incident happened shortly after 3:30 a.m., when the casino at 15 E. Fremont St. was closed.

Metro Lt. Larry Spinosa said someone climbed onto the roof, pried open a locked door and went directly to the cage area. After prying open the cage door, the burglars took three safes and exited through a back door. He ran into an alley at First Street and Carson Avenue.

Burglar alarms were tripped, but the thieves were gone when the alarm company arrived.

No arrests have been made. Police are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. McGrath at 229-3573 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

Buildings boss retiring from post

Mike Meizel, who has managed the state's property under five governors, will retire Aug. 15.

Meizel, 58, has been administrator of the state Buildings and Grounds Division for 29 years. He oversees the maintenance and upkeep of state buildings and is responsible for leasing more than 1 million square feet of office space from private companies.

No replacement has been named for the $72,000-a-year job.

Meizel, has served under Govs. Mike O'Callaghan, Bob List, Richard Bryan, Bob Miller and Kenny Guinn.

Constable faces tough situation

and homes in the 1100 block of Clark Avenue were evacuated this morning after a deputy constable told Metro Police that a 60-year-old man who was being evicted was hostile and had a gun.

The constable arrived at the man's apartment about 8:40 a.m., and the man "told the constable officer, 'You can do whatever you want. I'm not leaving,' " then he showed a gun, Officer Jose Montoya, police spokesman, said.

As of 10:40 a.m. today, police were still trying to talk the man into surrendering.

Three more wild horses are slain

Three more wild horses were found shot to death in eastern Nevada, the latest in a two-year string of killings.

The bodies of a stud, a mare and 6-month-old filly were found Monday by a White Pine County road worker off a dirt road about 45 minutes west of Ely, said Chris Hanefeld, spokesman for the Bureau of Land Management.

Investigators say they had been dead about a week before they were found.