Local news briefs for July 1, 1999

Metro Police are looking for three men who robbed two restaurants and their patrons at gunpoint Wednesday night.

Just after 8 p.m. the three men brandishing handguns entered the International House of Pancakes at Cheyenne Avenue and U.S. 95 and ordered an employee to empty the cash register, police said. The gunmen also robbed those dining at the restaurant. The trio fled the scene in a white Lincoln Town Car, police said.

At 11:45 p.m. the same three men entered the Diamond China Restaurant in the 3900 block of West Sahara Avenue through an unlocked rear door, police said. Once inside the restaurant they tried to get into the cash register and robbed the diners, police said.

Anyone with information on these hold-ups can call Metro Police at 229-3591 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Reward offered in Brinks attempt

A reward of $25,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of three men in Monday's attempted armored car robbery at the Desert Inn hotel-casino.

The reward is in effect until Aug. 31, Metro Police said.

Two men exchanged gunfire with two Brinks guards about 9:45 a.m. Monday on the south side of the Desert Inn. One of the guards was shot in the arm and the other was hit in the thigh in the botched attempt.

The shooters were picked up by a third man driving an Isuzu Rodeo. The men then switched to a red pickup at the nearby Vagabond Inn, police said.

All three men are Hispanic. Police describe the first man as 25 years old, 5 feet 4 inches and 140 pounds. The second is 35, 5 feet 8 inches and 150 pounds. The driver is 30, 5 feet 6 inches and about 145 pounds, police said.

Anyone with information on this crime is asked to contact Metro's robbery detail at 229-3591 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

12 charged with drug distribution

Twelve people have been arrested on charges that they were involved in the distribution of cocaine and heroin in West Las Vegas, according to the FBI. Arrests warrants have been issued for an additional 10 people wanted for their involvement in the alleged drug ring, the FBI said.

The FBI says Herlindo Arias-Hernandez obtained cocaine and heroin directly from Mexico and acted as a large-scale supplier of narcotics to the Las Vegas area. Once in Las Vegas, the cocaine and heroin were distributed in the West Las Vegas area by Billy Shelby and others, the FBI said.

Those arrested have appeared before a United States magistrate judge, the FBI said.

Boy nearly drowns at Sunset Pool

A 7-year-old boy was pulled unconscious from Clark County's Sunset Pool at 2240 Linn Lane Wednesday afternoon after he had been under water for about two minutes.

The Clark County public communications office said the boy's friend told an off-duty lifeguard who was at the pool that the boy had not surfaced. One of two on-duty lifeguards was notified and pulled the boy from the water about 4:15 p.m.

The lifeguard, with the help of a registered nurse who was at the pool, administered CPR until paramedics from a nearby fire station responded. The boy was taken to University Medical Center, where a spokeswoman said he remained in critical condition in the pediatric intensive care unit this morning.

There were about 50 kids in the pool, and one of the on-duty lifeguards was trying to quell horseplay in the shallow end when the near-drowning occurred, according to the county's public communications office. Lifeguards responded to the accident quickly and according to procedure, the communications office said.

The Clark County Parks and Recreation department is investigating the incident. The pool was scheduled to open for normal public swim hours this afternoon. Lifeguards were given access to counseling and the option of taking the day off, the communications office said.

Reid hires new spokesman

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid Wednesday announced Wednesday Jack J. Pannell Jr. is his new communications director. Pannell will be the spokesman for Reid's Democratic Leadership agenda and will direct media operations for Reid's Nevada and Washington offices.

Since 1997 Pannell has been the press secretary to civil rights veteran Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.

Police look for victim's friend

Metro homicide detectives are looking for a woman they believe was romantically involved with a man found dead in his home on Saturday.

Investigators want to interview Patricia Ann Lopez, 19, to see if she can assist with a possible motive or information regarding the shooting death of Jorge Salazar, 47.

Salazar was found dead in his home in the 100 block of Cervantes Street about 6:30 a.m. Saturday. A friend of Salazar's found his body in a back bedroom of the home near Fremont and 21st streets, police said.

Lopez was not at her last known address when investigators attempted to contact her, and neighbors told police they had not seen her since Saturday.

Lopez is wanted only for questioning, police said.

Investigators warn of phone hoax

Police and fire investigators are warning of a hoaxer posing as a fire department official who called a northwest Las Vegas woman early Wednesday morning telling her that her house was on fire and warning her to get out of the house.

The woman kept the caller on the phone while she looked around her home for smoke and flames, a fire department spokesman said. Even though the woman found no evidence of a fire, the caller repeatedly told the woman to leave her house and wait for the fire department's arrival "in about 15 minutes."

As the woman grew more suspicious, she asked the caller for a phone number to confirm the call. The caller then hung up.

A fire department spokesman said that in most cases if a building needs evacuating, fire or police personnel will be on the scene in uniform.

If the call seems suspicious, residents can always hang up and confirm the call with dispatchers by dialing 911.

For the record

A man found stabbed to death Tuesday on the sidewalk in the 3400 block of Civic Center Drive in North Las Vegas has been identified as Edward Jackson, 46. North Las Vegas Police have no suspects or motive in Jackson's stabbing.

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