Monday, March 7, 2005 | 11 a.m.
New hearing ordered in robbery
A man sentenced to 131 months in prison for his part in a $345,000 bank robbery in Las Vegas is going to get another hearing before U.S. District Judge Lloyd George.
Brian K. Woods maintains he has new evidence that merits a new trial on his convictions of armed bank robbery, use of a firearm and aiding and abetting.
George initially denied the motion of Woods, ruling he submitted his petition past the deadline. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ordered George to take another look at whether or not the motion by Woods was submitted within the time limit.
Police alleged that Woods and his partner, John Buckner, both wearing ski masks, held up the Pioneer Citizens Bank, 4001 E. Sunset Road, on Nov. 14, 1997. They were later arrested at their apartment. Buckner, who had four prior convictions for armed robbery, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Car hits two bicycle officers
Two Metro Police bicycle officers were struck by a car Sunday night on the Las Vegas Strip outside of Mandalay Bay, police said.
Just before midnight, Kyle Lopez, 28 and John Schutt, 32, both on Cannondale mountain bikes, were on Las Vegas Boulvard 360 feet south of Four Seasons Drive when they were struck from behind by a 1990 Pontiac Sunbird, Metro Detective Robert Holland said.
The driver, Jerry McConnell, 41, of Ontario, Calif., told investigators he didn't see the officers. The officers were taken to University Medical Center where they are being treated for their injuries. Lopez was seriously injured and Schutt was moderately injured, police asid.
McConnell was cited. The collision was still under investigation this morning.
Second fire hits vacant restaurant
A two-alarm fire at the shuttered Phillips Supper Club in the 4500 block of West Sahara Avenue took about an hour for Las Vegas Fire & Rescue firefighters to douse after a call about noon on Saturday.
Firefighters found smoke and flames coming from the first floor in the rear of the building.
It was the second fire in the vacant supper club in three months, fire department spokesman Richard Gracia said. That fire caused about $500,000 in damage. The cause of Saturday's fire was still under investigation this morning.
Woman sought in bank fraud
Metro Police are searching for a woman who they say applied for and received credit cards using the identities of dead people in a bank fraud scheme that netted her more than $100,000.
Forgery detectives have issued six felony warrants against Sarah McKenzie on charges of obtaining a credit card without consent, fraudulent use of a credit card, theft and burglary.
Most of the victims are recently deceased. Police are investigating how she obtained their personal information.
Anyone who knows McKenzie's whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.
LV pedestrian, 44, in critical condition
A 44-year-old Las Vegas man was in critical condition this morning at University Medical Center after being struck by a vehicle over the weekend.
Metro Police said a witness told them that Joseph Sherwin was outside a crosswalk while crossing Jones Boulevard about 8:45 p.m. Saturday. Sherwin was struck by a 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 21-year-old Candace Holland, police said.
A man and a boy were riding in her car. None of the three was injured, police said.
The collision was still under investigation Sunday night, but apparently pedestrian error was to blame, police said.
Parents can review textbooks
The public may review textbooks proposed for use in the Clark County School District today and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Curriculum and Professional Development Center, 3950 Pecos-McLeod.
As part of the state Department of Education's textbook selection process, proposed titles are made available to the community prior to adoption. This year 13 new textbooks are under consideration.
The district's Textbook Committee includes teachers, administrators, parents and community members who evaluate whether titles reflect curriculum objectives and state content standards. The public is also welcome to submit comments for consideration. Final approval comes from the state Board of Education.
Wisconsin fugitive arrested in LV
A second man charged in the beating death of his former employer in Wisconsin was tracked down and arrested in Las Vegas with the help of cell phone records, police said.
The Nevada Fugitive Investigative Strike Force arrested Jie Chen, 34, around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, about 45 minutes after arriving in the city at an Asian restaurant he had contacted several times, De Pere, Wis., police said Saturday.
Capt. John Koser said cell phone records were "masterful" in leading to Chen's arrest, and hailed cross-state police cooperation.
"To have grabbed him up that quickly is amazing," Koser said.
Chen was charged late last month with first-degree intentional homicide and burglary for the October killing of Yuechen "Susan" Gong, the co-owner of the China King Buffet in De Pere. Chen was fired from the restaurant about a month before her death.
Gong was found on her back in a doorway to the kitchen of her home.
The other man accused in the case, former restaurant employee Manuel Dagoberto Angel-Monterrosa, 30, made his first appearance in Circuit Court last month after his arrest Feb. 12 in Bloomington, Ind.
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