News briefs for February 7, 2005

Monday, Feb. 7, 2005 | 9:39 a.m.

Rocks thrown at cars on U.S. 95

The Nevada Highway Patrol has stepped up patrols around the Torrey Pines Drive overpass at U.S. 95 after a Las Vegas man reported his vehicle was struck by a rock thrown from the bridge, a Highway Patrol spokesman said.

No arrests were made in the incident Friday, Sgt. Mike Nihei said. Those who threw the rocks could be cited or charged with throwing a deadly object, he said.

The overpass has been a site of rock throwing in the past, along with the bridges at Washington Avenue and Owens Boulevard at Interstate 15, he said. Neither overpass has seen a rash of incidents lately, Nihei said.

Nihei said the rocks were likely thrown by students from any of several nearby schools.

Inquest clears two officers

A Clark County coroner's inquest jury determined Friday that two Metro Police officers were justified in shooting and killing a man who opened fire on them in December.

Police had responded to a call about a man overdosing in a bathroom at an Ameri-Suites Motel on Paradise Road the morning of Dec. 30. Officers found him in the parking lot of the motel.

Torres allegedly fled when police approached him. The officers tried to stop him by using a Taser gun on him, but it hit his coat and apparently did not penetrate his skin, police said.

During the chase Torres pulled out a gun and shot at the officers, police said. Sgt. Daniel McGrath and Officer Redell Moore, both 12-year veterans of the department, returned fire, knocking Torres down.

Torres fired again at the officers, who shot him again, police said. Torres was transported to UMC Trauma, where he died of his injuries.

He had methamphetamine and heroin in his body at the time of his death, the coroner's office said.

Police motorcycle, car collided

The 34-year-old driver of a Ford Victoria was cited for failing to yield the right of way to a Metro Police officer after the car and motorcycle collided Sunday, police saids.

Officer Michael Riordan, 27, was driving a police motorcycle north in the far left lane on Las Vegas Boulevard South north of Flamingo Road at 4:42 a.m. when a car made a left turn into the Imperial Palace.

As the Ford's driver turned, the motorcycle struck the front of the car, police said.

Riordan was taken to University Medical Center where he was treated for moderate injuries and released, police said.

Although Tariky Ademe, the car's driver, was cited for failing to yield, the accident is still under investigation. Ademe was not injured.

Disaster relief for state urged

Nevada's congressional delegation asked President Bush to support Gov. Kenny Guinn's request that Bush declare portions of Nevada federal disaster areas, making the state eligible for flood recovery money.

Snow in December and January led to Northern Nevada blizzards and flooding in Clark County that damaged homes, businesses, private and public lands and rail lines, the lawmakers noted in a letter sent to Bush on Friday.

Federal money is needed for housing for the displaced, home repair grants and loans, hazard mitigation, crisis counseling, and other emergency related costs incurred by over-burdened local responders, the lawmakers wrote.

A White House spokesman was unavailable to comment on whether or not Bush would act on the request.

"We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and hope that you will work with us in bringing comfort and aid to those citizens whose lives have been unexpectedly and unalterably affected by these disasters," the letter said. It was signed by Democratic Sen. Harry Reid, Republican Sen. John Ensign, Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley and Republican Reps. Jim Gibbons and Jon Porter.

Woman found dead in street

Metro Police are investigating the death of a woman whose body was discovered in the street on Pecos Road south of Bonanza Road about 11:45 p.m. on Friday.

A 911 call alerted officers to the woman's body, police said.

Police investigating the death could not discover whether the woman had been hit by a car or died from other causes. Police are awaiting autopsy results.

Vigil new state conservationist

Richard Vigil, a former deputy state conservationist, has returned as state conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Reno.

Vigil has been an engineer on the Natural Resources Conservation Service design team in Lakewood, Colo., since April 2004. He started his Nevada job on Jan. 24.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve and improve soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life on tribal and private working lands.