News briefs for August 16, 2004

Monday, Aug. 16, 2004 | 9:42 a.m.

Floods disrupt U.S. 95 traffic

Heavy flooding Sunday night closed U.S. 95 at three locations, the most serious of which was at State Route 160 at Pahrump, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

Between 100 and 200 cars were stuck at SR160 from about 8:30 p.m. Sunday until 2 a.m. today because of the heavy rains, NHP spokesman Trooper Loy Hixson said.

Also, for several hours, traffic was closed at State Route 266 at Lida's Summit, the road leading into the town of Lida, about 200 miles northwest of Las Vegas, because of heavy rains that flooded the area, Hixson said.

Heavy rains and mud slides at U.S. 95 about 60 miles north of Las Vegas, closed the artery from 8:30 p.m. Sunday to 12:30 a.m. today, Hixson said.

All three stretches of highway were open this morning, he said.

Police discover man shot to death

A man was found shot to death just after midnight this morning in an apartment on 28th Street near Bonanza Road, Metro Police said.

Patrol officers were called to the apartment after a resident reported property damage from a pellet gun in the 500 block of North 28th Street. When officers arrived they found a bullet hole in a bottom floor apartment window, Sgt. Mike Thompson said.

Through the window officers saw the body of a man and forced their way into the apartment. The victim was between the ages of 25 and 30 and appeared to have been shot multiple times, Thompson said.

Witnesses saw two men leaving the apartment and one was carrying a suitcase. A white sedan was also seen leaving the area around the time the body was found.

Police believe the victim is the occupant of the apartment, but his name has not yet been released.

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

Hells Angels member sought

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives is asking for the public's assistance in locating a member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang wanted in connection with the 2001 killing of a Tempe, Ariz., woman.

Paul Merle Eischeid, 32, was being supervised by U.S. probation officials while awaiting trial, but has not been seen since July 29 in Arizona.

Eischeid, a member of the Mesa, Ariz., chapter of the Hells Angels, was one of more than 50 Hells Angels and associates who were arrested last year in Arizona and other Western states on a variety of federal and state charges including Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering, to include murder.

Eischeid has numerous tattoos, including "Eischeid" tattooed on his stomach with the Hells Angels "Death Head" and "Hell 666 Bound" across his lower back.

Anyone who knows his whereabouts is asked to call their local authorities.

Car chased by police crashes

A police car chase in eastern Las Vegas ended abruptly Friday morning when a Toyota Corolla that officers were pursuing ran a stop sign and hit a Ford Explorer, Metro Police said.

The accident occurred about 8:45 a.m. at the intersection of Ballinger Drive and Sloan Lane near Nellis Boulevard and Sahara Avenue.

The 17-year-old driver of the Ford, whose name the police did not release, was not hurt, but his two passengers, 57-year-old Velma Redic and an 18-month-old child, suffered minor injuries.

According to the police, the driver of the Toyota, 19-year-old Luis Guerrero of Las Vegas, and his passenger, 28-year-old Crystal Pena also of Las Vegas, were fleeing a robbery.

Task force plans growth workshop

The Clark County Growth Task Force will hold a workshop Tuesday to look at the ways regional agencies are tackling air, water and other environmental issues.

The Tuesday meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Pueblo Room of the County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway