News briefs for July 20, 2004

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 | 11:10 a.m.

Officer identified in shooting

The Metro Police officer who shot a 27-year-old carjacking suspect Saturday has been identified as William Miller, 31.

Miller shot Robert Walker at the Casa Tiempo apartments on Maryland Parkway near Sahara Avenue after pepper spray, a bean bag gun and Taser gun failed to subdue him.

Walker forced his way into an apartment and tried to hide, police said. Walker lunged at Miller, the police report says, and Miller fired at him, hitting him in the right forearm and upper thigh. He is being treated for his injuries.

No TV cameras wanted at trial

The public defender representing a 39-year-old convicted sex offender who is facing charges of sexually assaulting minors wants television cameras kept out of the courtroom.

Deputy Public Defender Dan Silverman filed a motion to deny a request from the local Fox News affiliate, KVVU Channel 5, to film Steve McNeill's appearances before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Nancy Oesterle.

Oesterle will issue a ruling at a July 28 hearing after she has read briefs submitted by Silverstein and KVVU.

McNeill is charged with sexual assault of a victim under 14, failure to register as a sex offender and two counts of lewdness with a minor.

McNeill is being held at Clark County Detention Center on $23,000 bail.

Fire causes Paris evacuations

A fire confined to one room on the 10th floor of the Paris Las Vegas caused the Clark County Fire Department to evacuate three floors Monday night.

A sprinkler in the room doused the fire, but guests on the ninth, 10th and 11th floors were evacuated briefly, fire department spokesman Bob Leinbach said.

There were no injuries, Leinbach said.

Panel to examine affordable housing

Clark County's Growth Task Force will hold a short meeting Wednesday to look at the issues of affordable housing, development patterns and redevelopment issues.

Members of the task force asked for the mini-workshop to gather more information before trying to develop strategies for controlling urban sprawl.

The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Pueblo Room of the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway.

Grant to help teacher quality

Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., announced a $1.5 million grant Monday to help improve teacher quality and retention in the Clark County School District.

The grant, which will run for a year starting Aug. 1, will fund a pilot project aimed at hiring more highly qualified teachers, as well as keeping those already working in Clark County schools. The money will pay for professional development, increased mentoring by veteran teachers and additional support services for teachers working in at-risk schools.

George Ann Rice, associate superintendent of human resources for the district, said 13 schools have been identified for the pilot program.

Boys and Girls Clubs issue warning in LV

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas have issued a warning to Las Vegas Valley residents about donating money to unauthorized youths posing as members of the organization.

Boys and Girls Clubs are not directly involved with any fund-raising activities and the clubs do not support unofficial fund-raising, officials said.

Those who are approached by a solicitor and suspect money is being raised under false pretenses can call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555. To donate to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas call (702) 367-2582.

Two-way radios stolen from buses

Clark County School District Police say someone stole 87 two-way radios valued at about $50,000 out of buses over the weekend.

The buses were parked in a locked lot on Arville Street bewteen Flamingo Road and Tropicana Avenue. There was no sign of forced entry to the parking lot or to the buses, Officer Darnell Couthen of the school police department said.

The radios, which bus drivers used to talk to each other and transportation base operations, were worth between $500 and $600 apiece.