IN BRIEF

$5,300 TAKEN

Suspect sought after robbery at Fitzgeralds

Las Vegas police continue to look for the man who "cooly and calmly" robbed Fitzgeralds and left the downtown hotel-casino in a cab early Thursday morning.

The suspect walked up to the main casino cage about 4 a.m., presented a note and demanded all the $100 bills the cashier had, said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Cris Johnson.

The man left the casino with $5,300 in cash and took off in a cab. Police are reviewing security footage and working with the cab company to locate the man.

"It's a pretty bold robbery when you go in to a casino cage and do (that) because of the amount of surveillance, security and witnesses, even at 4 a.m.," Johnson said.

The man told the cashier not to sound any alarms but did not present a weapon during the heist.

The suspect is described as Hispanic or black, 35 to 45 years in age, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, 180 to 190 pounds.

Police ask anyone with information about the robbery to contact Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

PRIVILEGE SUSPENDED

Action taken against Henderson doctor

The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners and the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy have barred a Henderson family physician and pediatrician from prescribing controlled substances often used in pain management, officials said Thursday.

During an emergency joint meeting between the two boards on Wednesday, Dr. Kevin R. Buckwalter's privilege to prescribe, administer or dispense controlled substances was suspended.

Buckwalter also was named in a medical malpractice complaint involving the treatment of four of his patients to whom he prescribed controlled substances, officials said.

Because of the action by the boards, Buckwalter cannot prescribe narcotics, hypnotics, sedatives, some anti-anxiety drugs and muscle relaxants. However, he can continue to practice medicine.

The two boards each found that if Buckwalter continued prescribing controlled substances while the malpractice complaint was pending, he would endanger "the health, safety and welfare of his patients.''

ARIZONA INCIDENT

Woman found dead in home after fire

An elderly woman died Thursday in a house fire in north Kingman, Ariz. The name of the 85-year-old victim has been withheld pending notification of kin.

Battalion Chief Chuck Therrien said Northern Arizona Consolidated Fire District personnel responded at 6:30 a.m. to a home in the 1200 block of Ames Avenue. The bedridden woman who was killed in the fire was found in her heavily damaged bedroom.

Therrien said investigators preliminarily suspect that smoking materials played a role in the fire. He said heavy heat damage occurred throughout the home.