News briefs for May 6, 2004

Thursday, May 6, 2004 | 11:22 a.m.

Southwest Gas chief collapses

Thomas Y. Hartley, chairman of Southwest Gas Corp., collapsed today during a presentation at the company's annual shareholders' meeting at The Rio Convention Center.

Hartley, 70, whose speech began to slow before he collapsed behind a lectern 20 minutes into the meeting, was immediately assisted by other executives and directors of the company until medical assistance arrived.

He was conscious and alert, according to Roger Buehrer, a spokesman for the company. Hartley was taken to Sunrise Hospital.

Hartley, who has been on the board since 1991, had been president and chief operating officer of Colbert Golf Design and Development, where he retired in 1999. He also is a director of Sierra Health Services Inc.

Car repossessed with baby inside

A car at an apartment complex was repossessed early Wednesday with a 7-week-old baby inside, Metro Police said.

The incident occurred about 2 a.m. at the Walnut Garden Apartments near Cheyenne Avenue and Lamb Boulevard. Officer Jose Montoya, Metro spokesman, said the mother left the baby in the car while bringing items inside.

When she came out a short time later the car was gone. She thought the car had been stolen and called police, Montoya said.

The repossession worker quickly noticed that a baby was in the car and also called Metro. The mother and her baby were then reunited, Montoya said.

Abuse and neglect investigators will forward a report to the district attorney's office.

Police scale back search for woman

Metro Police's search and rescue team is expected to scale back the search for a 45-year-old woman missing since Sunday, when she reportedly went to look for a friend's dog in Red Rock Canyon.

If searchers don't find anything today, they will assume that Christine Asleson isn't likely to be found in the canyon, Officer Jose Montoya, Metro spokesman, said.

"We searched with volunteers, dogs, horses, air units," Montoya said. "We've certainly done everything we can but we haven't found any leads."

Police are now looking at foul play as a possible explanation for Aselson's disappearance.

Guilty plea made in dam incident

A man who drove through a security checkpoint at Hoover Dam without stopping a year ago pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to trying to run over a Bureau of Reclamation police officer.

David Leroy Hamer, 30, could face up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kent Dawson in July.

About 1 a.m. on May 1, 2003, Hamer ran the checkpoint and twice attempted to strike an officer with his car, authorities say.

EOB hit with discrimination suit

A former employee of the Economic Opportunity Board of Clark County has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging discrimination.

Betty Casas filed the suit on April 30, alleging that after she was forced to miss work due to injury she was transferred, demoted and harassed when she returned, ultimately forcing her to resign.

The suit seeks unspecified damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress and $75,000 in attorney and litigation fees.

Former airport screener indicted

A former security screener at McCarran International Airport was indicted Wednesday on charges of taking a total of $700 from four passengers as he screened their belongings in March.

Dennis Prater, who no longer works at McCarran, is charged in the federal indictment with four counts of an employee of the United States converting the property of another.

The indictment alleges that while working as a Transportation Security Administration screener, Prater took $200 belonging to a passenger traveling from McCarran to Boston on March 12.

A pedestrian was struck

by a taxicab shortly before 2 a.m. today while crossing Las Vegas Boulevard South near Harrah's, Metro Police said. The man was jaywalking and might have been intoxicated. Police said he suffered serious injuries and is being treated at University Medican Center. The cab driver was not cited. The investigation is continuing.