News briefs for Jan. 28, 2004

Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004 | 11:13 a.m.

Cause uncertain in man's death

The Clark County coroner's office has not yet determined the cause and manner of death of a man found dead in the desert Sunday.

Dirt bikers found Brian Hutchinson, 44, naked off Las Vegas Boulevard North about three miles from the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. His clothing was found several hundred yards away.

There were no obvious signs of trauma on Hutchinson's body, police said. His death has not been ruled a homicide.

Four arrested in bar robbery

Metro Police arrested four men suspected of robbing a bar Monday, and detectives are trying to determine if they might be responsible for other robberies, Lt. Ted Snodgrass of Metro's robbery section said.

The robbery occurred about 1:40 a.m. Monday at PT's Pub at 4424 Spring Mountain Road near Arville Street. Three men entered the bar, made the patrons put their heads down on the bar and ordered the bartender to open the safe. The men got the money and then left in a dark-colored Oldsmobile.

A short time later Metro patrol officers and robbery detectives discovered the suspects in a building in the area of Sands Avenue and Koval Lane.

Officers with Metro's SWAT team arrived to help and arrested the suspects without incident, Snodgrass said.

Brian Wilson, 30; Marcus Woods, 20; Darren Gibson, 29; and Thomas Branson, 19 were charged with multiple counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, burglary and kidnapping.

They were arrested on robbery and related charges in connection with Monday's robbery, but some have been charged in robberies that have occurred at three other businesses, Snodgrass said.

Arrest made in appliances thefts

Metro Police arrested a man on charges of stealing about 200 appliances from homes under construction from all over the Las Vegas area and trading them for methamphetamine.

Paul Robinson told police he had burglarized 89 homes over a four-month period beginning in the summer, but only 41 of the burglaries were reported to police, Lt. Larry Spinosa of Metro's property crimes section said.

Police arrested Robinson two weeks ago and charged him with 23 felony counts in connection with 13 of the burglaries, police said.

Robinson is believed to have stolen about 200 appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, microwave ovens, washers and dryers, police said. Metro detectives searched Robinson's home and a storage shed where they found 20 of those appliances and numerous other large construction tools, Spinosa said. Spinosa said Robinson had removed the manufacturer's serial numbers before trading them for drugs.