News briefs for April 1, 2004

Thursday, April 1, 2004 | 11:46 a.m.

Three arrested in bar holdups

Metro Police on Monday arrested three people in connection with at least 22 armed robberies of bars in Las Vegas dating back to September.

Toliver Armstrong, 26, and Matthew Allean Davis, 24, were each charged with multiple counts of robbery, burglary, kidnapping and conspiracy.

Lateefa Starks, 24, Armstrong's girlfriend, was charged with robbery and conspiracy.

Police allege that on some occasions Davis would go into the bar alone, order a drink, play video poker and then speak to Armstrong via cell phone, telling him the layout of the bar and how many people were inside.

Police allegedge would enter the bar, hold a gun on the bartender and demand money. On several occasions Starks acted as a lookout, police reports allege. Sometimes both men would allegedly enter the businesses together.

Man shot in downtown LV

A man was shot several times and critically injured about 5:20 a.m. today on 16th Street near Stewart Avenue, Metro Police said.

Sgt. Rick Barela said the man, whose name has not been released, was shot in the torso. The victim staggered about a half block then collapsed. Officers found him in the street.

Detectives were speaking to people who live in the area this morning. It's not clear if the shooting was drug or gang-related, Barela said. No arrests have been made.

NLV Police probe drive-by shooting

North Las Vegas Police are investigating a drive-by shooting that occurred about 9:20 p.m. Wednesday on Travis Street near Lake Mead and Martin Luther King boulevards.

The victim was shot at least once, Officer Tim Bedwell said. He was taken to University Medical Center where he is listed in stable condition.

The shooting is believed to be gang-related, police said.

No arrests have been made. The victim's name has not been released.

ATV passenger killed in crash

A 22-year-old Las Vegas man who was the passenger on an all-terrain vehicle was killed about 11:55 p.m. Wednesday when the vehicle hit a parked car near Decatur and Lake Mead boulevards, Metro Police said.

The victim has been identified by the Clark County coroner's office as 22-year-old Andrew J. Lewis.

Michael Martinkovich, 32, was driving a 2000 Honda ATV down Bristol Manor Drive when it drifted to the side and struck the back of a parked car. ATVs are not meant to be operated on streets, police said.

Both men were thrown from the vehicle. The passenger, who was not wearing a helmet, was taken to University Medical Center where he died. His name was not available this morning.

Martinkovich was wearing a helmet. He is being treated for serious injuries.

Officer who shot man with knife ID'd

The Metro Police officer who shot and wounded a man with a knife on March 25 has been identified as Christopher Johnson, 32, a member of the department for six years.

Johnson responded to a call of a man with a knife who was treatening people at the Shadowbrook Apartments in the 3800 block of Wynn Road near Flamingo Road and Valley View Boulevard.

When 32-year-old Richard Terlitz allegedly lunged at him with a knife Johnson fired at him. Police may file charges of attempted murder on a police officer against Terlitz, police said.

Stabbing victim found in street

North Las Vegas Police discovered an apparent stabbing victim collapsed on the roadway near Losee Road and Carey Avenue about 7:15 p.m. Wednesday.

The injured man was taken to University Medical Center where his condition was not available this morning.

A suspect was arrested for battery with a deadly weapon.

State won't have do-not-call list

Nevada will use the national "do not call" registry rather than setting up a duplicate state program, Attorney General Brian Sandoval said Wednesday.

About 450,000 Nevadans have signed up for the national registry and "the feedback has been very positive, so using it instead of two separate registries and two separate complaint processes make sense for both consumers and the industry," Sandoval said.

Those who want their names on the "do not call" list to avoid telemarketers can sign up by calling toll-free (888) 382-1222 or online at ag.state.nv.us or donotcall.gov.

A Nevada law gave Sandoval the option of establishing a state registry or using the one of the federal government.

Rain possible as weather cools off

The Las Vegas Valley will cool off and has a chance at receiving a few light showers and thunderstorms from early Friday through Saturday, forecasters say.

The National Weather Service is predicting a 20 percent chance of rain after midnight, rising to a 30 percent chance later Friday and through Saturday, National Weather Service meteorologist Larry Jensen said.

"It's just a chance of rain," Jensen said, noting that the percentage must rise above 60 percent for rain to be likely.

A low pressure system is moving into the area throughout today, lowering temperatures 10 to 15 degrees and holding moisture in the air, Jensen said.

"It's something that we are watching," Jensen said.

Today's predicted highs of the low 80s will drop to the lower 70s on Friday and down to the high 60s by Saturday, Jensen said.

A man shot and killed

while standing on an apartment balcony Monday night has been identified by the Clark County coroner's office as 35-year-old Joaquin Medina. Metro Police said Medina had been talking on the phone on the balcony of his apartment on Decatur Boulevard near Vegas Drive when someone shot him several times from a nearby walkway.