Police charge 34-year-old suspect in six robberies

Following the capture of Enrique Hurtado after a bank robbery and five-mile chase Monday, Las Vegas police charged the 34-year-old Las Vegan with 18 felony counts in six of the eight valley heists they say he committed over a six-day period.

And North Las Vegas police are wrapping up an investigation they expect will result in Hurtado being charged in connection with a Saturday evening robbery of the Opera House Casino, which is at Las Vegas Boulevard and Carey Avenue.

Meanwhile, FBI spokesman Joe Dickey said it didn't appear Hurtado is connected with the slaying of five women during a robbery at a Tinley Park, Ill., Lane Bryant clothing store in February.

Valley law enforcement agents shared information with investigators in the Chicago suburb. News media reports out of Chicago Monday said Hurtado might have been linked to that crime.

Hurtado was booked into the Clark County Detention Center in absentia on five counts of kidnapping with a deadly weapon, four counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, three counts of burglary, two counts each of robbery, kidnapping and burglary with a deadly weapon, and one count of attempted robbery with a deadly weapon.

He remained at University Medical Center late Tuesday recovering from injuries he sustained in a crash while fleeing from police after a Monday robbery.

Hurtado is accused of robbing the Nevada Federal Credit Union, on Nellis Boulevard south of Charleston Boulevard, of more than $34,000 before leading police on a car chase Monday morning, according to his arrest report.

Police were able to stop Hurtado with spike strips, which led to the crash.

They recovered the money.

Investigators believe Hurtado is responsible for at least eight robberies, starting with the March 12 holdup of a Bank of America on Silverado Ranch Boulevard, according to his arrest report.

North Las Vegas police spokesman Mark Hoyt said Hurtado will most likely face robbery and attempted murder charges for the heist at the Opera House Casino just before 5 p.m. Saturday.

Hurtado is accused of firing two shots, at least one at a cashier, and fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Hoyt said investigators were shoring up fingerprint and DNA evidence from that heist before charging Hurtado.

According to his arrest report, Hurtado's crime spree continued at 9 p.m. Sunday, with the holdup of a CVS pharmacy at Boulder Highway and Tropicana Avenue.

Less than an hour later, police say, Hurtado robbed the 7-Eleven on Charleston, just east of Decatur Boulevard.

Investigators allege Hurtado then robbed the Sinclair Village shop on Boulder Highway at Desert Inn Road about 4:13 a.m. Monday.

By 7:52 a.m. Monday, police say Hurtado had robbed the E-Z Stop on Sahara Avenue, near Fremont Street.

Less than 30 minutes later, Hurtado is believed to have robbed the 7-Eleven on Lamb Boulevard, near Stewart Avenue, according to police.

Hurtado was finally captured after robbing the federal credit union about 10:30 a.m. Monday, police said.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2904.