Crime Corner

COPS: Man in jail for assaulting woman, faces more serious sex charge

A man already in police custody for assaulting a woman is facing more serious charges after a 14-year-old girl last month told a counselor at her school in Amargosa Valley that she was sexually abused by the man.

Anthony Shuey-Whisler is alleged to have sexually assaulted the girl when she was just 11 years old in 2011.

During a forensic interview conducted by police and social workers, the alleged victim described how the suspect rubbed his body against hers and penetrated her with his genitalia. She also told police that she told her brother of the incident and the brother confronted Shuey-Whisler.

The victim’s brother told police the suspect didn’t deny the assault occurred, but didn’t admit it either.

The suspect, however, denied ever being confronted when asked by police. He also denied the assault ever took place. But he changed his story once police informed him they’d interviewed the victim’s brother.

Though he finally admitted the brother confronted him, he still would not admit the assault.

“The suspect stated that he did not touch the victim and could not figure out why the victim would state this,” an arrest report on the matter states.

Police have charged Shuey-Whisler with sex assault on a child under age 14, a category A felony that could land the man in prison for life.

COPS: Casino waitress’ strange behavior leads to arrest

Police were called to a local casino last week after the manager became concerned with the strange behavior of one of her employees.

Rhea Janae Chavez was acting suspicious when she began work on Aug. 29 waitressing at the restaurant inside Saddle West. The manager called police after seeing Chavez eating food off of people’s plates and other odd behavior, including delivering a giant bowl of lemons to a customer who asked for an extra lemon wedge. Chavez also demanded money for delivering the bowl of lemons.

When confronted by her supervisor, Chavez allegedly became irate. She was asked to take a drug test and then became even more aggressive.

When police arrived, they noticed the woman’s pinpoint pupils and asked if she was high on something. She kept uttering the word “Jesus” when questioned. Asked if she’d used methamphetamine, she finally said she had taken a “bump of speed” before work, and some marijuana, too.

Chavez was arrested and charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance.

COPS: Big guy plays chase with deputies in backyard, is Tazered

Deputies struggled to place a large man under arrest last week after they confronted him over a theft report from Walmart.

Justin Coday was arrested at a residence in the 1900 block of West Wilson Road, but not before putting up a struggle.

Police went to the home to confront Coday over stolen items from Walmart. Coday got belligerent with the deputies, at one point clenching his fists and baring his knuckles.

When asked to keep his hands out of his pockets, Coday used the f-word to the officers.

They tried to place him in handcuffs and he attempted to close his front door on them.

Then, according to an arrest report on the matter, Coday turned suddenly and bolted through the house, crashing out of the back door. The deputies followed, at one point pulling a Tazer out and unsuccessfully firing it at Coday.

After running toward a gate, Coday was cornered and, with fists clenched, came at one of the deputies, swinging at one with his left fist. A Tazer was deployed again, this time successfully, and Coday went down.

“It should be noted, Coday is much larger than me,” one of the arresting officers mentioned in his report.

After Coday was forced into hand restraints, he was taken to the local hospital for treatment. He was later released and taken to jail, resisting arrest among the charges filed.