Las Vegas driver allegedly killed two police officers after drinking at Palm Bar
The man accused of punching two Nevada State Troopers on Interstate 15 reportedly drank so much at the Palms Casino bar that he was ordered to leave the casino before the accident.
Shortly before Thursday's fatal crash, 46-year-old Jemarcus Williams was at a Las Vegas nightclub when a Palms security guard warned him if he got into the car, Las Vegas reports , they would be intimidated by his apparent state of inebriation.Contact local police station KLAS.
But Williams ignored their warnings and hid behind a tree and waited for the guards to leave. He then got into his car and drove away, KLAS reported. Soon after, the car struck Sergeant Michael Abate and Officer Alberto Felix on Interstate 15 near downtown Las Vegas early Thursday morning. Both died from their injuries.
Police said Williams failed to stop at the scene of the accident. His heavily damaged car was located in an apartment building about a mile from the crash scene, police said.
According to unnamed sources, Williams still smelled of alcohol when he was arrested.
Williams was charged with driving while intoxicated causing death, reckless driving causing death and failing to stop at the scene of an accident. Williams has been held at the Clark County Detention Center since Saturday. His bail was set at $500,000.
Clark County Prosecutor Shanon Clowers-Sanborn appeared briefly in a Las Vegas courthouse Friday to ask for bail of up to $1 million. Williams' attorneys want him released from jail without bail and only require him to wear a monitoring device.
Contradictory statement
Judge Daniel Westmeier denied the motion after hearing that Williams gave police conflicting accounts of the incident.
"I didn't kill her. You should find out who did it," Williams initially told police after his arrest, prosecutors revealed in court. "At one point he also claimed his friend was driving the car. He later admitted he was the driver.
It's me, I drive, I destroy them. Prosecutors cited Williams' later statements to officers, the Associated Press reported.
Williams is expected to appear in court in Las Vegas on Tuesday. He has not yet entered a plea to the charges. If convicted, he could face years in prison.
In 2007, Williams was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in an unrelated case, KLAS reported.
Williams reportedly worked as a waiter and valet. His employer was initially unknown.
Soldiers mourn
Police stopped to check on a driver who fell asleep in his car on the highway during a Thursday crash.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, R, the former Clark County Sheriff, expressed his condolences to the two fallen soldiers.
"This is a devastating loss for Nevada law enforcement, the city of Las Vegas, and our entire state. As we mourn these soldiers, we will never forget their bravery, courage and sacrifice," Lomba Do said in a statement.
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Source: www.casino.org
