Suspect arrested in beating death

Heather Rawlyk and Lynn Doan

Thursday, July 1, 2004 | 11:03 a.m.

An ex-convict wanted for the fatal beating earlier this month of a retired Air Force major was arrested Wednesday evening at a northwest Las Vegas apartment complex.

Raymond Garrett, 37, was taken into custody without incident about 6 p.m. at the San Michelle Apartments at the 5800 block of West Lake Mead Boulevard, Metro Police said.

Garrett was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on one count of murder, three counts of robbery, battery with intent to commit a crime, and battery with substantial bodily harm, police said.

As police took him away from the apartment complex, Garrett told television news crews he had been in Las Vegas since police began looking for him one week ago, but was hiding because he didn't want to go to jail.

"I'm sorry that something like this could happen," Garrett said. "I'm gonna let you know, it wasn't me. Not at all."

Garrett allegedly punched and robbed 51-year-old Michael Born of Las Vegas in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart store at Stewart Avenue and Nellis Boulevard June 2, putting the man into a coma. The attack was captured on a surveillance videotape, which police said helped them identify Garrett.

Metro Police arrested Garrett June 11 on charges of robbery, battery and being a felon in possession of a gun. He was released from jail two days later after paying $16,000 bond, even though he was had been charged with felonies in a similar robbery in February.

Born, a retired Air Force major and father of a young daughter, died June 15 at University Medical Center after being on life support for more than two weeks. Police obtained a murder warrant and began searching for Garrett.

Residents of the San Michelle Apartments were stunned to hear the news that Garrett had been arrested in their apartment complex Wednesday night.

"It's normally quiet back here," said 28-year-old Elise Jink. "It's scary, but if they already got him, then I guess it's safe. You never know who lives next to you, and that's the scary thing."

Sara Fullmer, 29, who has lived in the complex for four months, said the apartment complex is "on the border" of safe and unsafe areas.

"If you go six or eight blocks in one direction, it's not so nice but if you go four blocks in the other direction, you're in Summerlin," she said. "This kind of thing can happen anywhere though."