Report: Man arrested for impersonating police officer, pulling people over

Wednesday, January 27th, 2021, 3:13pm

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- A Las Vegas man was arrested for impersonating a police officer and attempting to pull people over in different parts of the valley, according to an arrest report obtained by 8 News Now.

In three reported attempts, Pedro Franco, 29, would activate "red and blue lights similar to what is seen on emergency vehicles" on his unmarked, white Hyundai Tucson to fool victims into thinking he was a police officer, the report stated.

Franco would start by following the victim at a close distance, turn on the flashing lights, and then speed off once the victim pulled over to the side of the road.

The first incident, on Jan. 1, happened in the northeast part of the valley near Lake Mead Boulevard and Christy Lane. According to the report, the victim followed Franco after he sped off, got his license plate number and called police... Read More

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Wednesday, January 27th, 2021, 2:25pm

LOS ANGELES (NEXSTAR) – Actress Cloris Leachman, well known for her roles in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Phyllis" and "Young Frankenstein," among others, has died at 94.

Leachman died of natural causes at her home in Encinitas, California, according to her publicist.

“It’s been my privilege to work with Cloris Leachman, one of the most fearless actresses of our time,” Leachman’s manager Juliet Green said in a statement. “There was no one like Cloris. With a single look she had the ability to break your heart or make you laugh till the tears ran down your face. You never knew what Cloris was going to say or do and that unpredictable quality was part of her unparalleled magic.”

"She loved her children and her grandchildren ferociously," Green added. "A lifelong vegetarian, she was a passionate advocate for animal rights."... Read More

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Wednesday, January 27th, 2021, 12:28pm

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Clark County and health district officials say there is a plan to administer as many as 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines a week but a limited supply is keeping them from doing that.

“We are struggling with the number of vaccines we are receiving," said Dr. Fermin Leguen, acting chief health officer for Southern Nevada Health District.

Currently the district is receiving 22,000 to 25,000 doses per week. As of Wednesday morning, around 107,000 vaccinations have been administered to Southern Nevadans since Cashman Center opened as the first vaccine site on Jan. 15. Cashman Center is administering about 1,000 vaccines a day because of the limited supply... Read More

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Wednesday, January 27th, 2021, 11:49am

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nevada's COVID-19 test positivity rate, confirmed cases and hospitalizations appear to be on a downward trend as deaths continue to rise steadily, data shows.

The state reports 46 COVID-19-related deaths in the past 24 hours, with 40 coming from Clark County, according to data released Wednesday.

Nevada’s 14-day rolling average is now 18 deaths per day.

After two days of less than 1,000 cases reported, the state recorded 1,020 new virus infections in the past 24 hours.

Nevada reports 1,020 new COVID-19 cases, with 855 from Clark County. Nevada’s total cases are now at 273,873. Clark County has a total of 210,581.

Nevada’s test positivity rate dropped again Tuesday, falling from 18.9% to 18.6%, continuing more than a week of declines. The record — 22.3% — was reported on Dec. 8, 2020. Clark County’s test positivity rate is 20.0%... Read More

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Wednesday, January 27th, 2021, 10:05am

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Joe Lombardo says the department has pulled back its level of enforcement on the Las Vegas Strip following a months-long stretch of increased crime.

The sheriff joined Good Day Las Vegas Wednesday morning and discussed the results of Operation Persistent Pressure and where police enforcement currently stands.

"Now, the situation down there is completely different than what we experienced in the previous year. The crime numbers are bearing fruit associated with that," said Sheriff Lombardo.

Operation Persistent Pressure was launched during the summer of 2020 after police saw an uptick in violence on the Las Vegas Strip. It continued through the fall to deal with what was occurring in the resort corridor... Read More

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Wednesday, January 27th, 2021, 10:00am

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- The family of a 4-year-old boy who police say was beaten to death by his stepmother was investigated for neglect but the claims were never substantiated, according to the Nevada Department of Family Services.

Marcel Foster died on Jan. 22 following an alleged beating from his stepmother, Patricia Atalig, who is now facing a murder and child abuse charges.

According to the Child Fatality Report, which does not give specifics on what family member was involved in the investigation, the Clark County Division of Family Services, received a report on Feb. 8, 2018 which alleged neglect. The incident apparently occurred in another state but "upon conclusion of the requisite investigation, the allegations were found unsubstantiated." The family was given information on community resources.

The county received contact about the family again on Feb. 14, 2018 but that was coded as "information only." No other details are in the report. ... Read More

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Wednesday, January 27th, 2021, 9:45am

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Today marks the 70th anniversary of the first atomic bomb test in the Nevada desert.

A U.S. Air Force plane dropped a one-kiloton bomb on Frenchman Flat northwest of Las Vegas at the Nevada Test Site on Jan. 27, 1951. The area is now part of the Nevada National Security Site.

Between 1951 and 1992, the U.S. military detonated more than 900 atomic bombs in Nevada, though most were underground.

People used to grab a drink and sit on top of Atomic Liquors and watch the atomic blasts. It's the oldest free-standing bar in town.

Virginia's Cafe opened at the site in 1945 on Fremont Street, and after it closed in 1952, the owners reopened it as Atomic Liquors... Read More

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