News briefs for Feb. 5, 2004

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004 | 11:06 a.m.

Woman found stabbed near crash

A woman was in critical condition with possible stab wounds this morning at University Medical Center after police found her at a car wreck at 10th Street and Oakey Boulevard early today, police said.

The woman was found near a Lexus SUV that had hit some other vehicles and struck the curb after apparently going the wrong way through the intersection about 6:15 a.m., police said.

The woman had "puncture wounds on her body not consistent with" the type of injuries that would be typical of a traffic accident, Officer Enrique Hernandez said.

"We're trying to figure out what happened," he said.

Oakey Boulevard between Maryland Parkway and Ninth Street remained closed as of 10 a.m. as the investigation continued.

House target of drive-by shooting

Henderson Police are investigating a drive-by shooting outside a house in Green Valley about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Officer Shane Lewis said three people were in the house in the 300 block of Redondo Street near Arroyo Grande Boulevard and Warm Springs Road when several rounds were shot into the house and cars parked outside.

A flammable substance was also thrown onto one the cars, starting a fire that an occupant of the house extinguished with a garden hose.

Police are following leads. No one has been arrested.

Two men arrested in robbery spree

Metro Police robbery detectives arrested two men on Wednesday in connection with the robberies of a dozen bars, payday loan businesses and grocery store slot attendants in the southwest part of the valley, Sgt. Alfredo J. Cervantes said.

Cervantes said a man committed "take-over" style robberies in which he would force victims out of the area at gunpoint or into freezers at the bars. He would then break into the slot machines.

"Some people were traumatized, but no one was physically hurt," Cervantes said. "One bartender could not return to his job."

The robbr told his victims "his child has cancer and nobody is helping him" to pay for treatment, Cervantes said.

Detectives served searched warrants on two residences and a vehicle and recovered more than $38,000 in cash and a handgun.

Police in their investigation also recovered a stolen Ford Expedition that had been involved in a high-speed pursuit on Sunday.

Jody Kenneth Thompson, 23, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on multiple charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnapping, Cervantes said.

Allan McClard, 25, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, Cervantes said.

Indian Springs zoning eyed

Clark County formally moved to look at zoning for the booming small town of Indian Springs Wednesday.

The Clark County Commission initiated zone changes that could restrict some land from residential development in the unincorporated town of about 1,600 people, across the road from an Air Force auxiliary field.

The commission also voted to hold off deciding on a zoning request that would allow 230 manufactured homes on about 31 acres in the town, which is 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas on U.S. 95.

The county's reworking of Indian Springs zoning is likely to take several months. The process will include public meetings in the community, and the County Commission will have to approve any final zoning maps.

Girl hit by car upgraded to good

The condition of an 11-year-old girl who was struck by a car in North Las Vegas on Tuesday was upgraded from serious to good, North Las Vegas Police said Wednesday.

The sixth grader, Antoinette Scott, and her 13-year-old sister were jaywalking across Lake Mead Boulevard near Civic Center Drive when they were both hit by a 1994 Ford Taurus driven by Rene Montiel, police said.

Scott sustained serious injuries after being thrown onto the windshield of the car. Her sister was grazed, Officer Justin Roberts said.

Police attributed the accident to pedestrian error, but an investigation is ongoing.

Abbatangelo will run for re-election

Chief Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo announced Wednesday he will run for re-election in Department 3. He was first elected in 1996 and re-elected in 1998.

Abbatangelo, a former Municipal Court judge, also practiced law with his father, the late David Abbatangelo. He will be kicking off his re-election campaign today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Italian American Club, 2333 E. Sahara Ave.

Two named to Ethics Commission

Las Vegas lawyers Mark A. Hutchison and Elizabeth Goft Gonzales have been named to the state Ethics Commission by Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Hutchison succeeds Thomas Sheets of Las Vegas who moved on to the state Tax Commission. Gonzales replaces Lizzie Hatcher also of Las Vegas whose term expired.

Gonzales was one of the three finalists to replace District Judge Gene Porter and Hutchison is the founding member of the law firm of Hutchison & Steffen.