Politician Arrested In Journalist's Killing In Las Vegas

The investigation into the killing of reporter Jeff German took a new twist Wednesday night when Las Vegas police arrested a county official about whom German had written.

Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles was taken into custody and charged with murder, The New York Times reported.

Earlier, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed  that it was executing search warrants at the home related to the weekend killing. 

German, a reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journalwas found dead of stab wounds outside his home on Saturday. Police said there were signs of an altercation.

The 69 year-old journalist had written a series of stories about Telles’ alleged mismanagement of his office and charged that Telles had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. Telles, a Democrat, lost his primary reelection bid, although he denied the charges.  

German reportedly was planning a possible follow-up story about Telles. 

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The Review-Journal reports that officers and police vehicles were seen outside Telles’ home on Wednesday and that by 6 p.m., police had returned in tactical gear and were surrounding the home with Telles inside. Telles was subsequently wheeled out on a stretcher and placed in an ambulance, per the report. 

The killing represents a new level of attempts to intimidate the press.  

“We are relieved Robert Telles is in custody and outraged that a colleague appears to have been killed for reporting on an elected official,” said Glenn Cook, the Review-Journal’s executive editor, in a statement“Journalists can’t do the important work our communities require if they are afraid a presentation of facts could lead to violent retribution.”

On Tuesday, police released photos of a red or maroon GMC Yukon Denali believed to be tied to the homicide suspect. Review-Journal reporters said they observed Telles in the driveway of his home, standing next to a vehicle matching that description.

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