Thursday, June 12, 2003 | 11:33 a.m.
Pedestrian hit by CAT bus
A 42-year-old Las Vegas man is in critical condition after he was hit by a Citizens Area Transit bus about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on Stewart Avenue near Casino Center Boulevard, Metro Police said.
David Martens, who was crossing Stewart Avenue in the middle of the block, stepped into the path of a 60-foot long dual coach CAT bus, police said. The bus was pulling out of the Downtown Transportation Center onto Stewart.
Martens was dragged a short distance before the driver, Ainsworth Lockwood, 43, of North Las Vegas, stopped the bus. Martens was taken to University Medical Center's trauma center.
Police said Martens might have been under the influence of alcohol.
This is the third accident this year involving a CAT bus and pedestrian. A 76-year-old man was killed Jan. 27 on Desert Inn Road near Pecos Road when the driver ran a red light. A woman was killed Feb. 19 when she stumbled in front of a bus on Las Vegas Boulevard near Charleston Boulevard. Police said she was intoxicated.
House fire called arson
A fire in a home near Rainbow Boulevard and Flamingo Road Wednesday was intentionally set, Clark County fire officials said.
The blaze started about 4:30 a.m. in a car in the attached garage of the home in the 4400 block of Honeydew Circle. Two women who were in the house escaped, but a cat died, officials said. The women were treated at a local hospital for smoke inhalation and released.
Fire investigators found evidence of arson in the car. The fire destroyed the car, garage and part of the house, causing $75,000 in damage. The fire is under investigation.
Fugitive arrested by special team
Members of the Criminal Apprehension Team on Tuesday arrested a 34-year-old man wanted for kidnapping in Fresno, Calif.
Sgt. Ted Lee said Martin Manuel Moncallo Ruiz was wanted on charges of kidnapping his common law wife's two children, ages 8 and 11, from Fresno Aug. 10, 2002, and driving them to Ensenada, Mexico.
The children managed to call their mother that night, and the Mexico Federal Police arrested Ruiz. The children were unharmed and returned to their mother, police said.
Ruiz was released by Mexico authorities and came to Las Vegas. He was arrested by the CAT team about 8 a.m. Tuesday in an apartment in the 1900 block of Cindysue Street, near North Rancho Drive and West Lake Mead Boulevard, after police received a tip from a concerned citizen.
Man indicted in Internet sex case
A 36-year-old local man has been indicted on charges of using the Internet to lure a 16-year-old girl into a sexual encounter.
Phillip James Ardoin is named in the indictment that was unsealed Wednesday in Clark County District Court.
The indictment alleges Ardoin chatted with the girl on the Internet and set up a meeting in her home state of South Carolina for Oct. 29, 2002. The indictment states that Ardoin also took photos of the girl partially nude.
Ardoin is charged with using technology to lure children and three counts of using a minor in the production of pornography. District Judge Gene Porter issued a warrant for Ardoin's arrest and set bail at $25,000.
Pedestrian criticaly injured
A man who was walking across Charleston Boulevard near 11th Street was left critically injured after being struck by a car about 9:20 p.m. Wednesday, police said.
Police had been unable to identify the man as of this morning, and they were searching for the driver of the car that hit him.
Evidence indicates a blue car that was westbound on Charleston struck the man while he was in a crosswalk. Witnesses said the blue car then swerved, hit another westbound car and drove off without stopping.
The driver of the other car stopped and tried to help the pedestrian, but also left the scene before police arrived. The pedestrian was taken to University Medical Center, police said.
The hit-and-run car is described as a blue Mazda hatchback with a tinted back window. Witnesses said it didn't have a rear license plate.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or Detective Bill Redfairn at 229-3128.
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