News briefs for November 19, 2004

Friday, Nov. 19, 2004 | 10:58 a.m.

Pit bull killed after attacks

A Metro Police officer on Thursday shot and killed a pit bull that attacked two Las Vegas residents in a northwest neighborhood, police said.

The dog had reportedly chased neighbors in the 10000 block of Britton Hill Avenue about 8 a.m. Thursday before biting the arm of a woman who had been walking her miniature poodle. The woman was able to get into a neighbor's car and escaped the pit bull, Lt. Sean Donnelly said.

She was taken to MountainView Hospital where she was treated for the bite. Another man, who was also carrying a miniature poodle, was also bitten. He later drove himself to MountainView Hospital.

Both of the poodles were bitten, one of which appeared to lose a toe, and both dogs were transported to a nearby veterinarian, he said.

Two officers shot the roughly 70-pound animal, first with a handgun and later with a shotgun, Donnelly said.

The first shot failed to incapacitated the dog, which then ran after another officer, he said.

"The first shot was a very good shot that would have incapacitated a human in a heartbeat," Donnelly said. "I emphasize that the dog was bred for fighting."

No citations were issued as officers could not find the dog's owner. The dog appeared well-fed and bred for fighting, as its ears had been cropped, a practice normally intended for vicious dogs, he said.

Owners of a dog bred to be vicious can face misdemeanor charges if the dog injures a person.

It is the eighth vicious dog Metro officers have killed, Donnelly said.

Man sentenced in fatal shooting

A 19-year-old man who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter was sentenced to at least five years in prison Thursday.

District Judge Donald Mosley sentenced Brandon Olds to a 14-year prison term with parole possible after five years. Olds was originally charged with murder for the May 19 death of 22-year-old Lennell Bell, who was shot multiple times.

The two had allegedly been arguing over money at Bell's apartment building near Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway. Olds also said he believed Bell, who he said was a pimp, was trying to recruit Olds' 12-year-old cousin to be a prostitute.

Olds' lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Scott Coffee, said Olds received the reduced charge because he acted in self-defense.

Citations issued in 'car surfing'

North Las Vegas Police have issued misdemeanor citations to a couple involved in a "car surfing" incident Nov. 7.

Natalia Brooks, 28, was cited for reckless driving and Ralph Brooks, 29, was cited for riding on a vehicle in an area not designed for passengers.

Police said Natalia Brooks stopped quickly when her husband's hat blew off, and the quick stop threw Ralph Brooks to the ground, police said. He was hospitalized for his injuries.

Escaped inmate found in bar

A state prison inmate from Clark County, who escaped Tuesday while on a work crew at the Western Nevada Community College in Carson City, was captured Thursday at a bar in Reno.

Fritz Schlottman, a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections, said Matthew Nevin, 44, was arrested by Reno police acting on a tip. Schlottman, administrator of the offender management program, said Nevin would be returned to Carson City and placed in a more secure prison.

Nevin, who was an inmate of the minimum security Warm Springs Prison, was on a work crew at the Western Nevada Community College when he disappeared.

He is serving a one- to 15-year sentence for robbery from Clark County. Because of the escape, he is now expected to additional time.

Concert planned to help hospice

A free concert will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. today to assist a South African hospice in its fight against HIV/AIDS.

Nathan Adeslon Hospice is sponsoring the concert at the Winchester Community Center, 3130 S. McLeod Dr., to benefit its sister hospice, the Ladybrand Hospice of South Africa.

The concert will feature dance and performance art by Creative Combustion, a northern Nevada at-risk teen group, and local choirs.

Call the Winchester Community Center at 455-7340.

Assistant U.S. attorney honored

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Johnson has been recognized as an outstanding prosecutor by the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys for Superior Performance.

Johnson was one of 224 recipients honored this week with a 2004 Directors Award. Johnson was recognized for his work in the successful investigation and prosecution of Zhen Dong Yu, a former Bank of China manager convicted of federal racketeering charges steming from the embezzlement of $485 million from the bank.

Other Nevada-based federal prosecutors to win the award include Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Schiess and Sharon Lever.

Temple Beth Am will hold a parking lot sale

Sunday to benefit community programs. The sale will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the synagogue's parking lot at 9001 Hillpointe Road. For more information or to reserve a booth, call 254-5110.