Two arrested in iPad robbery that caused death of teenager

By Dave Toplikar

Published Sunday, May 19, 2013 | 9:59 a.m.

Updated Monday, May 20, 2013 | 8:50 a.m.

Metro Police say they have arrested two suspects in Thursday's theft of an iPad that led to the death of a 15-year-old Bonanza High School student.

Jacob Dismont, 18, and Michael Samuel Solid, 21, both of Las Vegas, face charges of open murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Dismont was a standout baseball player at Sierra Vista High School. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound first baseman was a 2013 season letter winner. A YouTube video shows him hitting a grand slam in a 2010 high school game.

Dismont also played baseball as a freshman and sophomore at Durango High School.

Metro spokesman Bill Cassell said police were able, with the public's help, to find the two suspects within 48 hours of the crime.

"We went from a horrible crime where a kid lost his life to suspects in custody," Cassell said. "That shows the focus of this police department."

He said police received tips from the public that significantly helped the investigation.

"We're very confident we got the two who were there," he said.

Marcos Vincente Arenas, a freshman at Bonanza, was walking on the south side of Charleston Boulevard carrying the iPad when a white vehicle, believed to be a Ford Explorer or Expedition, stopped and a man got out of the passenger side.

The man tried to steal the iPad and started to drag Arenas, who was trying to hold onto it, police said.

The man got back into the SUV with the teen still holding on, or being held by the suspect, police said. As the SUV drove west on Charleston Boulevard, Arenas fell and was struck by the vehicle, police said. He died at University Medical Center.

Cassell said the crime of stealing iPads and iPhones is so common across the country that police refer to it as "Apple picking."

He said that anecdotal reports indicate the crime is increasing in Las Vegas.

He advised people to be alert when they're in public places. And when it's a decision between your safety and the Apple device, let it go and buy a new one.