News briefs for Feb. 11, 2004

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004 | 9:40 a.m.

Woman killed in beltway crash

A 37-year-old woman died Tuesday at University Medical Center after she lost control of her car on the Las Vegas Beltway approaching Russell Road about 11 p.m. Monday.

Trooper Angie Wolff said Tiffeny Evans of Las Vegas was talking on a cell phone and speeding when her 1999 Jaguar went off the road and into a desert area, hitting a chain link fence.

The car rolled, throwing Evans from the car, Wolff said. She was not wearing a seat belt and was alone in the car.

Mother, son face drug charges

A mother and her 14-year-old son were arrested Friday on charges of trying to smuggle methamphetamine into the Southern Desert Correctional Center near Indian Springs.

Lt. Matt Alberto of the Nevada Department of Public Safety said Tammy Sue Herrera, 34, and her 14-year-old son were arrested while visiting Herrera's stepson, Jonathan Herrera, 35, an inmate at the prison.

Investigators were told Tammy Sue Herrera was using her son to smuggle the drugs into the facility.

She was arrested at the prison on drug trafficking and smuggling-related charges and booked into the Clark County Detention Center. Her son was booked on similar charges at the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center.

Fugitive arrested at Railroad Pass

A 62-year-old man was arrested by state authorities Feb. 2 at Railroad Pass hotel after failing to appear in court in Texas on an attempted murder charge.

Texas authorities also learned Harland Vetter may have kidnapped his girlfriend and was holding her against her will. She was found unharmed at the hotel, Lt. Matt Alberto of the Nevada Department of Justice said.

Vetter was booked into the Clark County Detention Center and will likely face charges relating to the alleged kidnapping, Alberto said.

Jewelry stores hit by burglars

Burglars broke into the Chainery and Marks Brothers jewelry stores inside the Boulevard mall and stole an undisclosed amount of merchandise Monday morning, Metro Police said.

The burglaries occurred about 3:30 a.m. Two masked suspects entered through outside doors and once inside, they pried open the gates to the stores.

The janitor saw the thieves and notified a mall security guard but by the time security arrived the suspects were gone, Lt. Larry Spinosa said.

Security gates to both stores were pried open and glass cases in both stores had been broken and jewelry was removed. The suspects were very selective in what they took and were quick, Spinosa said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or Metro's property crimes section at 229-3573.