Crime news briefs for February 20, 2004

Friday, Feb. 20, 2004 | 11:46 a.m.

Three arrested on drug charges

Metro Police gang crimes detectives arrested three suspects Thursday on numerous felony charges including trafficking a controlled substance and possession of stolen property after serving a search warrant in the 500 block of North Circle.

Detectives had been investigating heavy narcotics sales in the neighborhood, near Twain Avenue and Paradise Road, police said.

One of the suspects tried to escape during the search by jumping out a second story window, police said. The suspect was taken to University Medical Center for treatment.

Gaylen Taft, Amado Solando-Lopez and a third suspect whose identity has not yet been established were arrested after police found a quarter-pound of methamphetamine, four handguns, 25 stolen credit cards, drivers licenses and birth certificates, three stolen lap top computers, several stole car stereos and 46 pieces of jewelry at the house, police said. Police also said they found phony credit cards created to match the stolen driver's licenses.

The stolen credit cards and driver's licenses matched victims of auto burglaries, police said.

Eight people, including a 6-month-old baby, were in the home at the time of the raid.

Fugitive from Wisconsin arrested

Metro Police arrested a Milwaukee fugitive at his father's northwest Las Vegas home Thursday.

Derek Meir was wanted on charges of sexual assault, kidnapping and use of a deadly weapon in commission of a crime.

Meir is accused of assaulting two Milkwaukee women in May 2003. The women, who police say have identified Meir as their assailant, were kidnapped at knife point in Milwaukee store parking lots, driven to undisclosed loccations, tied up and sexually assaulted.