Man arrested in hit-and-run accident that killed young Metro Police Explorer

By Tovin Lapan

Published Friday, Aug. 2, 2013 | 12:24 p.m.

Updated Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013 | 7:11 p.m.

With help from witnesses, Metro Police tracked down a suspect accused of fleeing the scene of an accident that killed a teenager Thursday.

Jvon Lawrence Williams, 29, was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of hit-and-run and driving under the influence, police said.

Williams was picked up at his home in the northwest valley after witnesses identified his car as the one involved in a collision about 7 p.m. Thursday with a motorcycle on Sahara Avenue at Van Patten Street, police said.

According to a Metro arrest report, Williams was driving a red Volkswagen and failed to stop at a stop sign before turning onto Sahara Avenue.

A motorcyclist, identified by the Clark County Coroner’s Office as 19-year-old Angel Velasquez of Las Vegas, slammed on his front brake to avoid hitting the Volkswagen but lost control and struck the side of the car, the report said. Velasquez died from his injuries.

Witnesses, who said the Volkswagen did not stop after the crash, provided Metro Police with identifying information, the report said.

Police went to the residence listed on the car registration and found the registered owner, Kathleen Williams, who said her son was driving the car, the report said.

Jvon Williams arrived later in the Volkswagen, the report said.

He told police that he was driving east on Sahara Avenue when he went to make a U-turn at Van Patten and continue west on Sahara Avenue, the report said. As he made the U-turn, he said, someone sideswiped his car, the report stated. He said he stopped but kept driving after he did not see anyone in the road, according to the report.

The arresting officer detected alcohol on Williams’ breath and administered field sobriety tests and a breath test, all of which Williams failed, according to the police report.

Williams was being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center and had a court hearing scheduled for Saturday morning

Velasquez was studying criminal justice at the College of Southern Nevada and when he was 16, he joined the Metro Police Explorer Program, which teaches young people about law enforcement, according to a Metro Police statement.

“He was an energizing leader,” Officer Krista Bullard, his Explorer advisor, said in a statement. “He was our go-to guy.”

Velasquez, who said he wanted to one day join the police force, helped at many Metro Police events, such as those at the Southern Nevada Law Enforcement Memorial, commendation ceremonies and, most recently, the funeral of Officer David VanBuskirk, Bullard said.

Fellow Explorers are holding a car wash fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Brake Masters, 8080 South Eastern Ave., to help with funeral expenses. A memorial fund also has been set up in Velasquez's name to help his family with expenses: Wells Fargo, account No. 3771101486.