News briefs for September 16, 2004

Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004 | 10:46 a.m.

Reward offered for info on robbery

Metro Police are looking for a man who robbed a cash loan business on Desert Inn Road near Decatur Boulevard Tuesday afternoon.

Police said the robber posed as a customer at Kosters Cash Loans, in the 4800 block of West Desert Inn, before pulling out a handgun that was hidden under his shirt.

The man, who police said is black and possibly left-handed, was last seen wearing a black "Clippers" baseball cap, black-framed sunglasses, an oversized black T-shirt, denim jeans and white tennis shoes.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the Metro robbery section at 229-3591 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

Kosters Cash Loans is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

Metro grant in Senate bill

Just over $3 million in federal grant money could be headed to Nevada to benefit law enforcement, legal education centers and domestic assistance programs, authorities announced Wednesday.

These items were included in the fiscal year 2005 Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Appropriations bill, approved Wednesday by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The largest chunk of the $3.3 million would go to Metro Police, which is working on a project that will connect all Las Vegas Valley police and fire departments' radio systems.

The department could receive $1.5 million for the project, which is expected to be complete in 2006.

The Henderson Emergency Operations Center is expected to receive $550,000, which will be used to equip a secondary Emergency Dispatch Center. The dispatch center will be housed in the police substation in southwest Henderson.

Nevada Child Seekers could receive $250,000.

The Computer Corps Skills and Knowledge Acquired Toward Enhancing Success program, also known as SKATES, could receive $200,000.

Missing man may have been slain

A 32-year-old North Las Vegas man who was reported missing Sept. 4 is believed to be a victim of a homicide, Metro Police said.

Kevin Dewohn Williams had been seen last in North Las Vegas on Sept. 2. His family called North Las Vegas Police after not seeing him for two days and told police they suspected foul play.

This morning Metro Lt. Tom Monahan said the investigation, which has included interviews with relatives and friends, has led detectives to believe Williams has been killed, although they have not found his body.

Detectives would like to speak to Corey and Nicole Wiggins regarding this case, Monahan said. They are not suspects, Monahan said, but detectives believe they may have information on what happened to Williams. Both were known to have lived in the 1900 block of East Tropicana Avenue.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or Metro at 229-3521.

Shooting victim is identified

A man who was shot and killed Tuesday in an apartment on Rancho Drive near Decatur Boulevard has been identified as 44-year-old Gonzalez Manuel Santa Crue, the coroner's office said.

Metro Police said the gunman, who is described as a stocky Hawaiian man with a long, curly blonde ponytail, knocked on the door of the second-floor apartment, pushed aside the woman who answered the door and shot the victim in the chest.

Anyone with information about the shooting can call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or the Metro Police at 229-3521.