News briefs for August 3, 2004

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2004 | 9:35 a.m.

Gas leak suspected in condo blaze

Henderson fire crews this morning were still fighting a fire that occurred after an explosion ignited a Green Valley condominium today.

The fire erupted about 5:45 a.m. in the 2800 block of Glendevon Circle near High View Drive and Valle Verde Road in Henderson after the explosion collapsed the front of the residence. About 25 firefighters this morning had most of the blaze extinguished as crews from Southwest Gas worked to seal other leaks on the property, said Henderson Deputy Chief Doug Stevens.

Investigators are still looking into what may have sparked the fire but early evidence and eyewitness reports indicate it probably was caused by a natural gas leak, said Battalion Chief Robert Maroney.

Neighbors told fire crews they smelled natural gas in the area several hours before the blaze erupted but did not call authorities, Maroney said.

The homeowner, whose name was not available this morning, suffered minor injuries but declined transportation to a local hospital, he said.

The home, valued at about $350,000, was completely destroyed, Maroney said.

Pastor evicted from church

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Tony Abbattangelo on Monday ordered the pastor of the Grater St. James Baptist Church to leave church property after his congregation voted to remove him at a church service on Sunday.

Pastor Gary Hunter, who is also a candidate for the Clark County School District board of trustees, was essentially evicted upon the demand of his congregation who voted to remove him as pastor over accusations he's been stealing money and allegedly engaging in sexual harassment.

Abbattangelo's ruling pertains only to Hunter's eviction from the church and is not binding in regards to whether or not he is still pastor, saying such a decision was up to the congregation at St. James.

Metro police officers accompanied Hunter as he removed his belongings from church after Abbattangelo's ruling.

On Aug. 1 church members voted 96 to 21 to oust Hunter, who had been pastor for 3 1/2 years, they said. He has claimed the vote was unfair and included people who were not church members.

Hunter said he would appeal Abbattangelo's decision. If Hunter wishes to legally challenge the congregation's vote to remove him as pastor, he would have to file a lawsuit in District Court, Abbattangelo said.

Man dies after being stabbed

A robbery victim died Monday night after he was was stabbed near Fremont Street and Eastern Avenue, Metro Police said.

A motorist saw the man stagger into Fremont Street about 11:35 p.m. and collapse, Sgt. Ken Hefner said. The driver called 911 and police and emergency personnel responded.

The victim, who appeared to have stab wounds, told the officers he had been robbed, Hefner said. He was taken to University Medical Center where he died. His name had not been released this morning.

Police believe he was stabbed a short distance away from where he collapsed. No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or the homicide section at 229-3521.

Fire caused by arson

A two-alarm fire that broke out in the attic of a commercial building on Decatur Boulevard Sunday night was caused by arson, Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

The site of the unoccupied building at 1859 N. Decatur Blvd. was being renovated for a church group, but the fire caused "significant damage." The loss was estimated at $200,000, Szymanski said.

The building is very old, Szymanski said.

A passerby called firefighters shortly after 9 p.m. and said sparks could be seen coming from the roof of the one-story building.

Though the Las Vegas Fire Department originally responded to the fire, investigators later discovered that the parcel of land actually lies within Clark County so the investigation has been turned over to the county fire department, Szymanski said.

Team battles Ash Meadows blaze

A wildland fire ignited by lightning was burning Monday through brush at a natural refuge with 24 species of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, authorities said.

About 70 firefighters battled the blaze at Ash Meadows, about 180 miles north of Las Vegas.

Firefighters cannot drop fire retardant or dip into the natural springs in the area because the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge harbors four endangered species, including the Devil's Hole pupfish.

The extent of the fire was unknown Monday night because a special fire investigation team made of up U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Wildlife Division and other specialists could not survey the damage until the fire is contained, officials said.

Marina could be relocated

As Lake Mead's water level continues to drop, the National Park Service is asking the public to comment on an environmental assessment in case the relocation of the Overton Beach Marina becomes necessary.

The National Park Service is working with the concession owner of the marina to determine alternate locations.

Low water conditions have already forced the Lake Mead Cruises and Las Vegas Bay Marina, now called the Las Vegas Boat Harbor, to relocate.

Park managers are working on a low-water amendment to the general management plan for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in case the drought continues lowering lake levels.

Public comments must be received by Sept. 1. Send comments to: Superintendent, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, 601 Nevada Way, Boulder City, NV 89005.

Social Security warns of scams

The Social Security Administration is warning valley residents about a number of scams that have recently surfaced in U.S. cities including Las Vegas.

The agency said Monday it has received numerous reports about telephone calls or visits from people who allege to be Social Security employees.

Two calls were reported by Las Vegas residents, each of whom were told by the caller that she had been given two Social Security numbers and needed the correct number and bank account information for verification, the agency said in a written statement.

Others nationwide have reported receiving a call from a person posing as an employee needing to verify the recipient's direct deposit information, the agency said. In another case, a caller told the recipient the agency was experiencing a power outage and needed to verify the person's information.

In some cases, the caller would sometimes place the recipient on hold and play the same on-hold recordings used by Social Security, the agency said.

"You should never provide your Social Security number or other personal information over the telephone unless you initiated the contact, or are confident of the person to whom you are speaking," Acting Inspector General Patrick O'Carroll Jr. said in a written statement.

O'Carroll recommends contacting Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to verify the legitimacy of any calls received before releasing information.

People can also report suspicious activity by calling 1-800-269-0271 or by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/oig/.

California woman dies in I-80 wreck

A California woman was killed when her teenage son apparently lost control of the vehicle he was driving on Interstate 80 near Elko, authorities said.

Travis Dancer, 18, was heading east when the 1992 Ford Explorer he was driving drifted off the road into the median shortly before 8 a.m. Sunday, about 25 miles east of Elko, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Bob Sneed said.

Dancer overcorrected and the vehicle went into a spin before overturning several times and coming to rest on its top, Sneed said.

Sandra Dancer, 49, of Paradise, Calif., was in the front passenger seat and died in the crash, authorities said.