News briefs for Sept. 15, 2003

Monday, Sept. 15, 2003 | 11:07 a.m.

Suspect sought in shooting of pair

North Las Vegas Police are searching for a suspect in the shooting of two men Sunday morning near Cheyenne Avenue and Civic Center Drive, police spokesman Justin Roberts said.

When officers arrived at an apartment at 2308 Mary Dee St., they found two residents of the complex, Jorge Gonzalez, 28, with multiple gunshot wounds in his upper body and Saul Reynoso, 21, with a single gunshot wound in his abdomen, Roberts said.

The shooting took place shortly before 10 a.m., police said.

Both victims were taken to University Medical Center, where they were in serious condition this morning, Roberts said.

Police were looking for a neighbor of the two men who, witnesses told police, had been arguing with the two victims before the shooting.

Man indicted in fatal traffic crash

A Clark County grand jury has indicted a Las Vegas man in the death of a Las Vegas woman in a traffic accident he allegedly caused while driving under the influence of alcohol.

The indictment, unsealed Friday before District Judge Gene Porter, charges Willie Joseph Wiltz, 31, with one count of driving under the influence and one count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Brandie Anderson, a 26-year-old employee of United Blood Services.

A warrant was issued for Wiltz's arrest, and his bail was set at $200,000

Authorities said on May 17 Anderson was driving a 2001 GMC west on Vegas Drive, and Wiltz, who was driving a 1995 Pontiac, was speeding east on Vegas.

Both cars had green lights at Rainbow Boulevard and came through the intersection at the same time in opposite directions, with Anderson turning left to head south on Rainbow, according to police. Wiltz braked but slammed into Anderson's car. The impact threw Anderson from her car, police said.

Prosecutors say Wiltz's blood-alcohol level was 0.17 at the time of the collision. Authorities said he was doing 65 to 75 mph in a 35 mph zone.

Wiltz's private attorney, James Ream, would not comment on the case.

Fire estimated to cost $1 million

The three-alarm fire that destroyed a strip mall Friday caused at least $1 million in damage and ruined five businesses, the Las Vegas Fire Department said this morning.

The department still is investigating the cause and working with business owners and their insurance companies to come up with specific loss figures.

The department said the fire, at the Village Shopping Center at West Charleston and Valley View boulevards, destroyed Sonio's Cafe & Rotisserie Restaurant, Campbell Printing Shop, The Frame Shop, The Upper Ear (a recording studio) and Camera Tech. Two other nearby businesses, Optioncare and Goochie Poochie, had slight smoke damage.

Officer shoots man after alleged threat

A Metro Police officer shot a 35-year-old Las Vegas man just after midnight Saturday after the man threatened the officer with a knife and a box cutter, police said.

Aramis Arrendondo was taken to University Medical Center's Trauma Center after Officer John Wiggins shot him in a parking lot at Sahara Avenue and Decatur Boulevard, Metro Homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said.

Wiggins, 31, has been on the force since January 2002.

Arrendondo was treated and and released from the hospital, then booked into the Clark County Detention Center shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday on charges of attempted murder of a police officer and resisting arrest with a weapon.

Sentencing set in fraud case

District Judge Kathy Hardcastle is scheduled to sentence Robert S. Byrd Jr. on Nov. 10 for bilking senior citizens.

Deputy Attorney General Neil Rombardo said Byrd told investors that he was a music producer and was producing several big projects. The people who gave him money never got anything in return.

Byrd pleaded guilty last week to four felony counts of theft of more than $250 from a person more than 65 years old. Each count carries a sentence of two to 10 years due to the ages of the victim. He also pleaded guilty to two felony counts of theft in the amount of more than $250.