Report: Former Metro officer allegedly choked and used ‘police belt’ to beat stepson; boy’s mother also charged in crime

Tuesday, May 26th, 2020, 6:58pm

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Grabbing the child by the neck and lifting him off the ground as he choked him is just one of the things former Metro Police Officer John Woodruff is accused of doing to “willfully and unlawfully” conspired with his wife Destini Woodruff “to commit child abuse,” according to a criminal complaint released Tuesday. Buying girls clothes, and making the child wear them to school or beating his bare bottom with a police belt are other incidents, the report said.

The abuse happened between April 1 and May 15, 2020, and according to the criminal complaint, the child suffered unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering as a result of the abuse and neglect.

John Woodruff and Destini Woodruff, patrol officers in the southeast area command for Metro Police, face the following charges:... Read More

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Submitted by 8NewsNOWStaff

Tuesday, May 26th, 2020, 6:37pm

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Reactions from local resort employees were mixed after the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s meeting on reopening casinos. Many are eager to go back to work, but they want to make sure they are protected first.

Thousands of casino workers have now been out of a job for over two months. While the governor has targeted June 4 as a reopening date for gaming, it’s important to note this doesn’t guarantee work for everyone.

“Some of them have been called back to work, and some of us not,” said Nery Martinez, a bartender at Caesars Palace. “Like me, I haven’t heard anything yet, so I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Some companies have said they’ll only open certain properties at a lower occupancy. With pools, night clubs and conventions temporarily halted, this will leave many out of work. ... Read More

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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020, 6:29pm

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nevada Gaming Control Board members heard from health officials and the public Tuesday on what the major concerns were for reopening Nevada’s casinos.

“We’re all concerned with the safety of employees and all our visitors, guests. And we’re concerned with folks potentially contracting COVID,” said Phil Katsaros, board member. “It’s on the forefront of all of our minds.”

The board is the regulatory arm for the state’s casinos. The board was hearing recommendations on how properties can reopen and keep employees and guests safe and will decide if further safety protocols are needed, in addition to what most resort properties have already agreed to do.

UMC CEO Mason Van Houweling highlighted the importance of temperature checks and screenings for guests and also revealed a new plan for dealing with tourists who end up being positive for COVID-19. ... Read More

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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020, 5:34pm

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Missing persons is requesting the public’s assistance in locating David Beese, 27, who has been missing since Monday night near West Alexander Road and North Grand Canyon Drive.

Beese is described as a Hispanic male, 5’1″ tall, 250 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.

All hospitals are asked to check their registries for the missing person and notify the police immediately.

Anyone with information regarding David Beese and his whereabouts is strongly encouraged to contact the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department at (702) 828-3111, the Missing Persons Detail during business hours at (702) 828-2907 or by email at missingpersons@lvmpd.com... Read More

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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020, 5:09pm

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — According to the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, 81% of Nevadans who filed are receiving unemployment benefits. The other 19% have not.

8 News Now spoke to those filing amid the constant frustrations.

“During the last part of March, all of April and all of May, so far, the business has been zero,” said Michael Screeton, who is filing for unemployment. He is one of thousands still doing so. “I do repair for a dentist, and as soon as the virus came in on March 18, everything shut.”

Screeton is self-employed.

“Now, the new system that just went into effect, the employment.nv.gov., I went through that and filed out all the paper work on that, and some of the questions were rather confusing,” explained Screeton.

“Kevin,” who was furloughed April 26, agreed. He said wording is tricky and thinks that is causing most of those “pending resolutions.” ... Read More

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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020, 2:36pm

CARSON CITY, Nev. (KLAS) –Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford is warning nursing home residents and their family members to be on alert about having their “stimulus checks” taken from them.

Ford says that his office has received complaints of nursing homes attempting to or pocketing the money of their residents. By law, nursing homes cannot require residents on Medicaid to sign over their stimulus payments.

“On many fronts, we’re actively working to protect our seniors, and any confiscation of stimulus payments should be reported to my office.”

Aaron D. Ford, Nevada Attorney General

KNOW THE LAW:... Read More

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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020, 2:26pm

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — COVID-19 testing of inmates and staff is under way at High Desert State Prison, where there have been four inmate positive tests and numerous staff positives.

The prison, about 45 miles north of Las Vegas on US 95, will test all inmates and staff on Tuesday.

High Desert was the first Nevada Department of Corrections prison to report a positive test involving an inmate. That report came last week and involved a man transferred from the Clark County Detention Center. On Monday, three more inmates brought from CCDC tested positive at the prison’s intake unit, a spokesman said.

“Standard intake operations require all offenders be isolated for a minimum of 20 days, which allows NDOC medical staff to monitor for symptoms during the generally accepted 14-day incubation period of COVID-19,” according to Scott Kelley, NDOC public information officer... Read More

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