Las Vegas police stated Thursday that they've linked the DNA of a county official to the latest homicide of investigative journalist Jeff German, whose protection of alleged misconduct in the end contributed to the official shedding his main election this summer time.
At a information convention, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo stated that Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles was arrested at his Las Vegas residence and booked Wednesday night time on a cost of homicide with a lethal weapon. The 45-year-old Democrat was taken out of his residence on a stretcher with what police stated have been self-inflicted wounds that weren't life-threatening.
Telles, 45, is accused of stabbing the Las Vegas Overview-Journal reporter to dying. Police stated that they discovered German’s physique on Saturday morning exterior of the reporter’s home and that he was probably killed Friday morning.
“This has been an uncommon case from the start, the homicide of an investigative journalist and the primary suspect an elected official right here in Clark County,” Lombardo stated. “It is a horrible and jarring murder, one which has deeply impacted Las Vegas. Each homicide is tragic, however the killing of a journalist is especially troublesome.”
Dori Koren, captain of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police’s murder division, stated that a man was documented on surveillance photos strolling towards German’s residence on Friday after which to the facet of his home. The person was sporting a straw hat, a shiny orange long-sleeved shirt and grey sneakers, and was carrying a duffel bag. When German exited his home by the storage door and went to the facet of the home, the intruder acquired into an altercation with him and the journalist was stabbed a number of occasions.
Police recognized a automobile seen driving round German’s neighborhood on the morning of the homicide, previous to the homicide and on the time of the homicide. Koren additionally stated that the person described by police had fled in that automobile, a maroon GMC Yukon Denali SUV with chrome handles, a sunroof and a baggage rack.
Telles turned an individual of curiosity due to his publicly expressed hatred towards the 69-year-old journalist and since a automobile matching the outline of the killer’s automobile was parked in entrance of his residence. Video proof confirmed the automobile leaving Telles’ residence the morning of the murder and arriving again shortly after the estimated time of the dying. Police say they found Telles was driving the automobile that morning.
When legislation enforcement searched Telles’ residence, automobiles and physique, they stated they discovered a pair of sneakers matching the killer’s clothes, splattered with blood and lower “probably in a fashion to destroy proof.” Police additionally stated they recovered a straw hat matching the outline, lower in an identical method.
“Probably the most essential points of this investigation was ready on the DNA outcomes, and we obtained optimistic DNA outcomes that confirmed Robert Telles’ DNA on the crime scene,” Koren stated.
Lombardo stated that police haven't but recovered a weapon however that the investigation remains to be energetic. Telles voluntarily was interviewed by police and selected to not retain a lawyer, in accordance with the Las Vegas Police Division. He's being held on the Clark County Detention Heart.
“Jeff was a loving and dependable brother, uncle and pal who devoted his life to his work exposing wrongdoing in Las Vegas and past. We’re shocked, saddened and indignant about his dying,” German’s household stated in a press release obtained Thursday by the Overview-Journal.
“Jeff was dedicated to searching for justice for others and would admire the onerous work by native police and journalists in pursuing his killer. We stay up for seeing justice completed on this case,” the assertion stated. “We additionally need to thank everybody for the outpouring of affection, assist and recognition for Jeff and his life’s work.”
German was a tenacious reporter who lined crime, courts, authorities corruption and mob figures for many years in Las Vegas. The journalist had launched a months-long investigation this yr into Telles’ workplace, which included allegations of abuses and an inappropriate relationship with an worker.
German’s investigation into the potential wrongdoing led to public outrage by Telles, who frequently tweeted his anger on the reporter. After a sequence of tales on Telles, the official misplaced his reelection bid within the June main.
In accordance with police, Telles was probably additionally upset that German was conducting extra reporting on the official. The journalist not too long ago filed public data requests for emails and texts between Telles and three different county officers ― considered one of whom was recognized in earlier tales as the worker Telles allegedly had a relationship with, in accordance with the Overview-Journal.
“The dying of Jeff German was each surprising and tragic, and we be part of with our group in being shocked at how this example has continued to evolve over the previous few days,” county spokesperson Stacey Welling stated in a press release. “Clark County continues to cooperate with the LVMPD on this energetic investigation. Our condolences are with Jeff German’s household, associates, and colleagues on the Overview-Journal.”
The county stated it's “reviewing its choices beneath the legislation relating to” Telles’ place as the general public administrator, which is an elected workplace. The county has suspended Telles’ entry to county workplaces and property for “the protection of our county staff and the general public” and stated that staff of the administrator’s workplace are working remotely whereas the workplace stays closed “till a dedication is made about when it might open.”
“When county administration was made conscious of the personnel points on the public administrator’s workplace a few months in the past, the choice was made to now not have employees within the public administrator’s workplace report back to Mr. Telles and this resolution will likely be in place till the general public elects a brand new Public Administrator in November,” Welling stated.
Lombardo stated Thursday that it was an “inappropriate venue to take a position or opine on” whether or not German’s dying is a part of a nationwide normalization of violence towards journalists.
“I feel it must be said and famous that it's troublesome as a result of it's a journalist, and we count on journalism to be open and clear and the watchdog for presidency,” he stated. “And when folks take it upon themselves to create hurt related to that occupation, I feel it’s crucial we put all eyes on and deal with the case appropriately ― corresponding to we did on this case.”
Post a Comment