IN BRIEF
ID NOT RELEASED
Man killed in crash on Flamingo Road
A man died Wednesday morning when he ran a red light at Flamingo and Sandhill roads, struck one car and then skidded into a Starbucks drive-through, Las Vegas police said.
The man was driving east on Flamingo around 8 a.m. when his Dodge Dakota struck a Ford pickup traveling south on Sandhill, police Sgt. Oscar Chavez said.
The collision forced both vehicles into a Honda sedan waiting in the drive-through of the Starbucks, police said.
The driver of the Dodge Dakota was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police did not release the name or age of the man.
The occupants of the two other vehicles involved were treated for non-life threatening injuries, police said.
PAHRUMP INCIDENT
Victim of Christmas Day crash identified
The 24-year-old man who died Dec. 25 after rolling his 2006 Dodge pickup in the desert area near Pahrump has been identified by the Nye County Sheriff's Office as Jose Naranjo of Las Vegas.
The accident occurred at 2:27 a.m. as Naranjo was spotted driving in circles northeast of Sagebrush Avenue and Dandelion Street, police said.
When deputies spotted Naranjo and flashed their lights at him, they said he fled, lost control of the pickup and his truck rolled over.
A Metropolitan Police Department officer assisted Nye County deputies in locating the vehicle.
After the accident, Naranjo was transported to Desert View Hospital in Pahrump, where he was pronounced dead.
Naranjo died of blunt force trauma in what has been ruled an accident, police said.
MAN'S CAR STOLEN
Gunshot victim found dead in apartment
Las Vegas police are investigating a Tuesday slaying in a southwest valley neighborhood.
Police were called out to a home at 8052 Wards Ferry St., near Decatur Boulevard and Windmill Lane, at 1:18 p.m. for a man found dead inside.
They found 30-year-old Abraham Avi Harely of Las Vegas dead from a gunshot wound and his car missing from the residence.
Police didn't have any suspect descriptions.
The car is described as a silver 2001 Lexus sedan with Nevada license plate 981VKW.
Anybody with information about the slaying is encouraged to call the homicide section at 828-3521 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 385-5555.
RENO CASE
Trial date set in slaying of college woman
James Biela, accused of killing a Reno college woman and sexually assaulting two others, has pleaded not guilty to the crimes.
The 27-year-old former Marine is charged with murder, kidnapping and three counts of sexual assault.
He entered his pleas in a brief hearing Wednesday before Washoe District Judge Robert Perry.
Trial was set for Feb. 22, 2010.
Prosecutors say they will decide next week whether to seek the death penalty.
Biela is accused of killing and sexually assaulting 19-year-old Brianna Denison, who disappeared while sleeping on friend's couch in January 2008. Her body was found Feb. 15.
He's also charged with sexually assaulting two other women in late 2007.
REFUNDS ORDERED
Residents of Incline Village win tax ruling
Incline Village residents have won another victory in a property tax lawsuit against the Washoe County assessor's office.
Senior Judge Charles McGee, in a Dec. 19 ruling favoring 830 taxpayers, ordered the assessor and treasurer to issue refunds for the 2005-06 tax year, including 6 percent interest.
The case and two previous ones challenged the way the assessor's office valued views of Lake Tahoe, beaches, and homes that were demolished and replaced when figuring property tax values.
Another case involving 8,700 Incline Village property owners is expected to be heard by the Nevada Board of Equalization in the next few months.
CALIFORNIA ROADWAY
11 injured as vehicles tangle on interstate
A runaway truck smashed into 11 other vehicles on Interstate 5 in the mountains north of Los Angeles on Wednesday, injuring 11 people, authorities said.
The crash occurred in foggy conditions shortly before 1 p.m. and closed northbound lanes for about three hours between the southern San Joaquin Valley and Los Angeles, creating a miles-long backup.
The truck driver reported that his brakes failed on a downhill stretch on the northern side of Tejon Pass near Lebec, officials said.
Investigators will examine the brakes to determine whether they were working. The fog also could have been a factor, officials said.
SUSPECT SOUGHT
Holocaust memorial damaged by tagger
San Francisco police are looking for a man who they say spray-painted graffiti on San Francisco's Holocaust memorial.
Witnesses say they saw a man on Monday spraying red paint on the memorial, located near the city's scenic Legion of Honor museum.
Police say the tagger wore a white bandanna, carried a messenger bag and fled in a car waiting nearby. Police did not describe the content of the graffiti, which city officials said was removed Tuesday.
City director of cultural affairs, Luis Cancel, said removing the graffiti costs between $6,000 and $8,000.
