Man wanted for running over pedestrians arrested

By Mary Manning

Published Tuesday, March 17, 2009 | 9:44 a.m.

Updated Tuesday, March 17, 2009 | 10:26 a.m.

Mirsha Rafael Gomez-Barajas

A Las Vegas man who left the scene of a crash Sunday morning after running over two pedestrians is in custody, but the pickup truck he was driving at the time is missing, Metro Police said.

Police said 28-year-old Mirsha Rafael Gomez-Barajas of Las Vegas was arrested Monday night after authorities received numerous tips on his whereabouts, Metro Detective Sean Lethbridge said.

Detectives following a tip that he was at a home in the northwest Las Vegas Valley found Gomez-Barajas sitting in a rented car, Lethbridge said. Traffic investigators had released his name shortly after the crash, saying he was likely the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash.

Gomez-Barajas did not resist arrest and was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on one count of felony hit and run, Lethbridge said.

Officers were called at 10:04 a.m. Sunday to the Penthouse Club, 3525 W. Russell Road, where a white 2007 Dodge crew cab pickup truck backed over a man and a woman and struck two parked cars before running into a building, police said.

The Dodge pickup then fled the parking lot without stopping or trying to aid the victims, police said. The pickup should have damage to the rear bumper, tailgate and tail light areas, Lethbridge said.

The woman, 28-year-old Rikki Lambert of Las Vegas, was in critical condition at University Medical Center. The man, 30-year-old Jeffrey Melloway of Las Vegas, also was taken to UMC with moderate injuries.

The collision remains under investigation by Metro's Accident Investigation Section.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the vehicle is asked to call Lethbridge at (702) 828-3786, or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555.