Thursday, August 04, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

In Brief

Eman Zaeri

HAND GRENADE HOAX

Police ID man held on terrorism charge

A man arrested Monday after convincing bus riders he had a hand grenade that turned out to be a paperweight was identified Wednesday as Eman Zaeri, Las Vegas police said.

Zaeri was arrested for making a terrorist threat. Police declined to release his identity until Wednesday.

Zaeri was one of 35 people taking a shuttle bus about 2 p.m. from Las Vegas to their jobs at the Primm Valley hotel near the border with California, police spokesman Chris Jones said.

Zaeri made threatening comments to a passenger before he pulled out a device that the passenger believed was a grenade, Jones said.

The bus driver pulled the bus over on Interstate 15 near St. Rose Parkway. Zaeri was detained until police arrived, and the highway was closed for nearly an hour, Jones said.

He said the charges against Zaeri were based on his comments to the passenger, his actions and the reaction of the other passengers.

HENDERSON BURGLARIES

Police arrest six in rash of break-ins

Henderson police this week cracked a burglary ring suspected in about 35 crimes that netted the group more than $100,000 in electronics, jewelry, guns and other stolen goods, police said.

Police arrested six people Monday at a Budget Suites motel and found a stash of stolen items.

Arrested were Johnnie Kirkling, 19, Natalie Kebede, 18, Armbra McMillion, 18, Cindy Hernandez, 18, Jessie McGown, 20, and a 17-year-old male.

Investigators believe that the group was responsible for a rash of residential burglaries in June and July. The burglars used unlocked doors or windows or smashed glass doors to get inside, police said.

Fingerprints at some of the crime scenes helped police identify suspects. Police put the suspects under surveillance and followed them Monday to the motel on Boulder Highway, where they unloaded some of their loot, police said.

DECATUR CRASH

Man killed in wreck may have caused it

A Las Vegas man killed late Tuesday in a four-vehicle accident at Decatur Boulevard and Washington Avenue may have caused the wreck , Las Vegas police said Wednesday.

Val Wayne Eggleston, 61, was driving north on Decatur in the left lane when his 2003 Chevrolet pickup drifted into the left-turn lane.

The pickup hit a 2000 Lincoln Navigator, pushing it into the rear of a 2005 Chevrolet pickup, which slammed into the rear of a 1987 Chevrolet Astro Van waiting to turn left onto Washington, police said.

Eggleston was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The accident is still under investigation.

The drivers of the other three vehicles and two passengers suffered moderate or minor injuries, police said.

WEST NILE VIRUS

Three dead birds in Washoe test positive

Three dead birds found in Washoe County have tested positive for West Nile virus, the Washoe District Health Department said.

Two of the birds, a robin and a dove, were found in southwest Reno. The third, another dove, was found in Sun Valley.

Officials said the test results underscore the need for people to take precautions against being bitten by infected mosquitoes, which spread the virus.

So far this year, one human case of West Nile virus has been confirmed in Nevada. The man, who is younger than 50, lives in Yerington.

Health officials urge people going outside to wear pants, long sleeves and insect repellent to guard against mosquito bites. People also should limit outdoor activity around dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active, they said.