News briefs for Sept. 13, 2005

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005 | 11:07 a.m.

Woman dies after leaving truck

A young woman was killed early this morning near Dumont Boulevard and Maryland Parkway when she got out of a moving pick-up and went under the wheels of the truck, Metro Police said.

The woman was apparently having an argument with 21-year-old Jorge Serrano, the man who was driving the truck about 2:50 a.m, Sgt. Tracy McDonald said.

The name and age of the woman were not available this morning, said the Clark County Coroner's office.

A Metro officer, who was in area writing traffic tickets, attempted to stop the vehicle for speeding when the woman opened her door and fell out of the truck, which was traveling at about 10 to 15 miles per hour, McDonald said.

"She wasn't pushed, definitely," he said. "She exited the vehicle on her own."

The vehicle was slowing down for the officer when the woman fell out of the vehicle, McDonald said.

She was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.

The driver was booked on DUI but was not charged with the woman's death, said Metro Detective Bob Holland.

Pedestrian killed when hit by vehicle

A 54-year-old Las Vegas man crossing Sierra Stone Lane near Eastern Avenue was killed when he was struck by a vehicle about 6 p.m. Monday, Metro Police said.

Roberto Perez was outside a crosswalk, police said.

Emily Westcott, 21, said the sun was in her eyes as she drove west and she did not see Perez until after she struck him, police said.

Perez was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

It appears Perez was largely to blame for his own death, police said.

Teen paralyzed after shooting

The teen who was found by North Las Vegas Police shot in the courtyard of an apartment complex on Civic Center Drive on Sunday survived but is paralyzed from the waist down, police said this morning.

Sean Walker, spokesman for the North Las Vegas Police, said police are not releasing the name of the teen, who is younger than 18.

The teen was found shot at an apartment complex at 3301 Civic Center Drive, near Losee Road and Cheyenne Avenue at about 1:45 a.m.

Police have detained no suspects in the shooting, Walker said.

Lawyer denied reinstatement

The Nevada Supreme Court on Monday refused to reinstate disbarred Las Vegas lawyer J. Michael Schaefer, who has run for political office more than a dozen times unsuccessfully in Nevada.

The court said that Schaefer, who was disbarred in 2001, has failed to establish by "clear and convincing evidence that he has the required moral qualifications, competency and learning in the law to practice in this state."

Schaefer last ran for election in 2004 for the state Senate in North Las Vegas and has had unsuccessful tries for Congress, the Las Vegas City Council and the justice of the peace. He has also filed suits challenging Nevada's election laws.

Before moving to Nevada, Schaefer was elected to the city council in San Diego.

Recreation center to remain closed

The county-run Cambridge Recreation Center will be closed to the public throughout most of this week despite news that Hurricane Katrina survivors will not be receiving services at the center as planned.

Clark County spokeswoman Stacey Welling said public service workers expecting to provide help to Hurricane Katrina victims arriving on Federal Emergency Management Agency-sponsored flights began breaking down their respective stations inside the center Monday and will clear out by the end of the week.

FEMA officials said the flights had been canceled because of hurricane survivors' lack of interest in relocating to Las Vegas.

Welling said the recreation center, 3930 Cambridge St., should be at least partially open by Friday and will resume normal operations by Monday.

County inspector to lend a hand

A six-year veteran of the Clark County School District's facilities division is headed to New Orleans to lend a hand.

Christopher Fowler, a senior code compliance inspector with the district, was slated to depart today to help evaluate the safety of schools that were in Hurricane Katrina's path. He is one of five inspectors from separate school districts that will assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"Our school district has been called up to help in a small way with the huge effort in place to restore the gulf area from the devastation," said Paul Gerner, associate superintendent of the district's facilities division. "We are here to assist in any way we can."

Fowler will join certified inspectors from Albuquerque, Indianapolis, Miami and Nashville in the two-day trip, the cost of which is being covered by FEMA. The overall safety of the structures will be evaluated, along with electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling and ventilation systems.

Police investigate hit-and-run

North Las Vegas Police are investigating a hit-and-run collision Sunday morning that injured a 26-year-old pedestrian.

Police said Sebastian Sanchez-Romero was trying to cross Las Vegas Boulevard North at Magnet Street when he was hit by a vehicle.

He was found lying in the street about 5:30 a.m. There were no vehicles in the area or anyone else around, police said.

Sanchez-Romero was taken to University Medical Center where he is recovering.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 633-1017.