Archive for August, 2008
 
I-Team: Rimers’ Neighbors Fume at Mess Left Behind
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008


Stan and Colleen Rimer sit in jail awaiting trial, their neighbors fume at the mess they left behind. Evidence photos taken the day Jason Rimer died expose squalid conditions inside the Rimer house. Neighbors say the outside isn't much better and they want the county to clean it up.

Watch a Slideshow from inside the Rimer home

In a neighborhood named for cities in Ohio – for 31 years, John Infantino has called Cleveland home. But these days, he says his backyard retreat smells less like the Buckeye state and more like a New Jersey landfill.

Read the arrest warrant against Stan and Colleen Rimer

“You can just smell all the dog crap, the pigeon crap – it just stinks real bad back here,” he said.

Listen to Colleen Rimer's 911 Call

The block wall separating Infantino from his neighbor does little to contain the stench or its source. “You see everything that's leaned up against the wall, and if you happen to look over, it's a complete mess.”

Vacuum cleaners, file cabinets, tools, extension cords, light bulbs, trash bags…

“Two old junk cars,” said Infantino. “Broken mirrors, broken doors, boxes and boxes and boxes of old silicone.”

Animal feces, furniture — and a flock.

“Just a bunch of nuisance,” said Infantino.

A public nuisance according to Clark County code. Yet Infantino insists county code enforcers have paid zero attention to the property some go out of their way to see — the home where 4-year-old Jason Rimer died in the family's SUV.

“I've contacted a lot of people, and I haven't seen a soul and nobody's called or anything,” said Infantino.

“We currently have a case on that property,” said Clark County code enforcement administrator Joe Boteilho.

Boteilho won't share case specifics but typically he says homeowners have 15 days to clean up before receiving a second demand. Due process can make it a slow process but ultimately the county can go in at the homeowner's expense.

With Colleen and Stan Rimer behind bars, it's unclear what if anything they plan to do to satisfy the county.

“Send somebody to clean it up,” said Infantino.

And their neighbors on Cleveland Street…

“This has got to be cleaned up,” said Infantino.

Stan Rimer's brother Phil is currently living in the home. The I-Team contacted him about the mess. He said he cleaned up the front yard – though the neighbors disagree – and asked us to quote, “Please stop bugging him.”

Email your comments to Investigative Reporter Colleen McCarty.


 
County Commission Tries to Solve Feral Cat Problem
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008


The county commission Tuesday tried to figure out what to do about the growing population of stray and feral cats in the valley. A new ordinance is being considered to try to deal with the problem but not everyone likes the plan.

The people at one mobile home park say it's been overrun with stray cats. Current laws call for strays to be captured and killed. But it's apparently not helping curb the cat problem. And a new proposal could mean even more cats in some areas. And that has residents there upset.

This quiet neighborhood near Nellis looks like they've been hiding from a monster. Holes underneath homes have been boarded up, mesh wiring covers entire porches to protect pets and homeowners keep their eyes out for the animals that stalk the night.

“They stay on the underside and tear things up – AC ducts, belly paper, their plumbing lines,” said Deann Weiss. She is the property manager at the mobile home park. She says hundreds of stray cats are calling her neighborhood home.

“You have all the different diseases that cats aren't tested for,” she said. Weiss is opposed to a new ordinance before the county commission that would allow homeowners to house as many as 20 cats while they wait to be adopted.

“Granted you have a sponsor. That's great – all these cats are in their home. The door opens up, the cats run out the door,” she said.

According to Karen Layne, the president of the Las Vegas Humane Society, there are 200,000 feral cats loose in the valley. She says the county needs this new ordinance.

“One of its major parts is the concept of trapping, neutering and re-releasing. That's re-releasing back into a custodian. It's a different way of dealing with the cat problem in Clark County,” she said.

But some people don't want the cats at all.

“I will not put up with stray cats fighting our animals and spreading disease,” said Lester Stevens.

At the mobile home park, Weiss has done a decent job of cleaning this neighborhood up. But she is worried the new ordinance will give it right back to the cats.

County commissioners did not reach a decision in Tuesday's meeting, instead they put the ordinance on hold to make some revisions. They are looking at the possibility of cutting down the amount of cats a household sponsor can house.

Email your comments to Reporter Tedd Florendo.
 
Air Force Squadron Ready for Deployment
Monday, August 18th, 2008

The 820th Red Horse Squadron is preparing for its next tour of duty overseas. The local airmen will leave as soon as the week of August 18th for training.

Many airmen got to watch the 51's game not too long ago. Saturday they were pampered at the Golden Nugget. They say it's these special moments that's helping them to prepare to be away from their families.

For the 300 local airmen bracing for another tour of duty, a comedy show is exactly what they need to lighten the load of being away from their families.

“It helps a lot to relieve some stress. Gives me and my wife to build and deepen the relationship,” said Air Force Second Lt. Joshua Tate.

Defending the Caveman is a show about the relationship between a man and a woman, the differences between the two genders and what it takes to compromise.

“He talks about how women take over the house — they put little towels and trinkets. No place is ours,” said Joshua.

Tate and his wife are partners in everything — from raising their five children to Joshua's decision to enlist.

“I said, 'Think about it for two weeks. Whatever you decide, I'll support you 100-percent,'” said Cami Tate.

Joshua and his fellow airmen in the 820th Red Horse Squadron will be heading overseas for at least six months, “Most of us be swinging hammers, working construction equipment to help people rebuild country — do something good for them.”

For Lance Franklin and his wife Chelsey, this will be the first time they will be separated.

“I'm terrified. The key spouses have been good at preparing all the wives,” said Chelsey.

It's the sacrifice spouses say they make because their husband or wife is making an even greater sacrifice for their country.

“I love the Air Force. It's been a great ride so far,” said Lance.

The first group will be leaving next week. Airmen can be based in either Afghanistan, Iraq or Qatar.

Email your comments to Reporter Janet O


 
Arrests Coming for Metal Thefts
Friday, August 15th, 2008


Eyewitness News has learned a raid of a recycling center turned up more than just stolen cars and metal. Police say it is leading to the wire thieves themselves and an arrest is eminent.

ABC Recycling was searched by officers from various police agencies in southern Nevada. Copper, aluminum and stolen cars were confiscated from two locations owned by the company.

All of the stolen cars were found at the ABC Recycling yard - the same place they kept the paperwork. Sources say those documents put detectives on the trail of a prolific wire thief who traded metal for money.

It's not the last time you will see police combing through recycling yards, according to metro's Lt. Robert Duvall. It is his unit that took the lead and organized the raid, consisting of officers from nearly all southern Nevada police departments.

Operation Boneyard marked a shift in the fight against metal thieves.

“You have to not only go after the source of the theft, but what brings the profit to that theft as well,” said Duvall.

Detectives collected quite a bounty — eight stolen cars were identified and police believe two more may also come up stolen. Duvall says the cars were stripped of metal at the site, then transported to a nearby, well hidden, second location.

That's where police recovered 58 pallets of copper and aluminum worth an estimated $300,000.

“We had to find special places to put all of this stuff,” said Duvall.

Police sources say the paperwork at ABC Recycling put detectives on the scent of a prolific wire thief. Those sources believe an arrest may happen next week.

Scott Stolberg says that's good news. He runs AAEQ Recycling and says he refuses to accept items he believes are stolen, “We will have people bring in sewer covers that are engraved ‘City of North Las Vegas' or ‘Clark County' on them. We are like, ‘I am sorry, we do not buy that.'”

To stay clean, Stolberg is installing a system that documents recycling transactions. An ATM looking machine stores fingerprints, takes the recycler's picture and holds contact information.

“The drivers license scanner goes here. When it is all done, it will print out a ticket here and tear it off. Just like a casino, you will be able to go to a cash dispenser and get paid,” he said.

The entire process is documented so police can go back if there is a problem. Stolberg hopes this new system will mean operations like ABC Recycling will be out of business.

At ABC Recycling, police also confiscated nine fork lifts, three pallet lifts, two scales and two dump trucks. Lt. Duvall says the equipment was used to commit the metal theft crimes.

The evidence will be handed to the D.A. Metro Police will likely push for charges to be filed.

Email your comments to Reporter Edward Lawrence


 
Police Search For Suspect in Shotgun Death
Tuesday, August 12th, 2008


Metro is searching for the person who shot and killed a man Monday night. It happened near Lamb and Stewart.

Metro says a young man died from a gunshot wound to the hip with what appears to be a sawed-off shotgun.

The gang unit was called out but police are not saying if this was gang related.


 
India Participating in Red Flag Exercises at Nellis
Monday, August 11th, 2008

For the first time India is taking part in Red Flag exercises at Nellis Air Force Base.

The Indian and U.S. militaries had little interaction during the Cold War, when India was more closely aligned to the Soviet Union and the U.S. was an ally of India's rival Pakistan.

But now analyst believe the U.S. is eager to use India as a counterbalance to China.

The latest war game exercises also include South Korea and France.


 
Officer Involved Shooting Overnight Leaves 1 Dead
Monday, August 4th, 2008

A man is dead and a police officer is on paid administrative leave. It happened just before midnight.

Metro said the fatal shooting started as some officers were walking through an apartment complex near Cheyenne and Walnut.

They say two uniformed gang officers approached a group of three men just before midnight. One of the men took off running — the officers caught up with him and then a fight started.

During the fight, police say the man fired a gun at the officers but didn't hit them. They say they told him to drop the gun and surrender which he refused — and that's when the sergeant shot him.

The victim was taken to UMC where he died.

Metro said at least one officer is on paid administrative leave and there will be a coroners inquest to follow to prove if the shooting was justified or not.

Eyewitness News doesn't know the victim or the sergeant's name at this hour but we'll have the latest details here and on Eyewitness News at Noon.