OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Police in Las Vegas have conducted a search of the home of a prominent Las Vegas Democrat in connection with the stabbing murder of an investigative journalist.
Las Vegas Review-Journal journalist Jeff German, 69, was found stabbed to death outside of his home on September 3, but is believed to have been murdered the day prior to his finding.
On Wednesday Las Vegas Metropolitan Police confirmed that they issued a search warrant and descended on the home of Clark County public administrator Robert Telles, The New York Daily News reported.
Telles, 45, lost a primary in June shortly after German wrote a series of stories for the paper regarding the hostile work environment at Telles’ office, which included bullying and an “inappropriate relationship” with a staffer.
Telles repeatedly denied the allegations on social media and his re-election website.
After police released surveillance footage of a vehicle tied to the attack, a red or maroon GMC Yukon Denali, a car matching the description was spotted in Telles’ driveway, the Review-Journal reported on Tuesday.
“On September 3, at approximately 10:33 a.m., LVMPD Dispatch received a call of an unresponsive man outside of a residence located in the 7200 block of Bronze Circle. Arriving officers and medical personnel pronounced the victim deceased at the scene,” The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police said in a press release.
“We take this case very seriously and our investigators have been working non-stop to identify and apprehend the suspect. We enacted our Major Case Protocol immediately following our initial response and are using all LVMPD resources to maximize the progress of this investigation.” Captain Dori Koren said.
“Now we are asking for the public’s help. During the investigation, detectives were able to locate images of the suspect. At this time, it appears the suspect was potentially casing the area to commit other crimes before the homicide occurred. Photos of the suspect accompany this release.
“Detectives are asking for the community to review their video cameras at homes or businesses to see if they captured the suspect in the area of Vegas Drive and Rock Springs on September 2, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” the press release said.
Telles penned several tweets critical of German prior to his murder between June 16 and June 20.
“@JGermanRJ texted me to tell me article 3 is coming out. I’m sure article 4 will come out soon enough. Jeff, I know you are obsessed, but I’m over you,” he said in one.
@JGermanRJ texted me to tell me article 3 is coming out. I'm sure article 4 will come out soon enough. Jeff, I know you are obsessed, but I'm over you. 😂
— Rob Telles (@RobTellesLV) June 16, 2022
“Does the @LVRJknow that @JGermanRJ may be doing double duty on their dime? Do they know he basically made a veiled threat to make me take down my site with the truth after I already lost the election?” he said in another.
Does the @LVRJ know that @JGermanRJ may be doing double duty on their dime? Do they know he basically made a veiled threat to make me take down my site with the truth after I already lost the election? #LasVegas pic.twitter.com/9H2szMAGtV
— Rob Telles (@RobTellesLV) June 17, 2022
“*Wife hears rustling in the trash* Her: ‘Honey, is there a wild animal in the trash?’ Me: ‘No, dear. Looks like it’s @JGermanRJ going through our trash for his 4th story on me.’ Oh, Jeff…” he said in another tweet.
*Wife hears rustling in the trash* Her: "Honey, is there a wild animal in the trash?" Me: "No, dear. Looks like it's @JGermanRJ going through our trash for his 4th story on me." Oh, Jeff… 😂 @LVRJ #LasVegas
— Rob Telles (@RobTellesLV) June 18, 2022
“@JGermanRJ, you do know people can see these tweets and go to the website I made, right? BTW, it’s interesting that all your articles feature quotes by your buddy, John Cahill,” he said in another during his tweetstorm.
Looking forward to lying smear piece #4 by @JGermanRJ. #onetrickpony I think he's mad that I haven't crawled into a hole and died. 😂 @LVRJ #LasVegas
— Rob Telles (@RobTellesLV) June 18, 2022
“Looking forward to lying smear piece #4 by @JGermanRJ. #onetrickpony I think he’s mad that I haven’t crawled into a hole and died,” he said in one.
Looking forward to lying smear piece #4 by @JGermanRJ. #onetrickpony I think he's mad that I haven't crawled into a hole and died. 😂 @LVRJ #LasVegas
— Rob Telles (@RobTellesLV) June 18, 2022
“Losing and lashing out,” German tweeted with a link to a story on Telles, to which Telles responded “Actually… It wasn’t lashing out so much as making sure that you finished the story about the website, and maybe poking a little fun.”
Actually… It wasn't lashing out so much as making sure that you finished the story about the website, and maybe poking a little fun. 😉 https://t.co/vSHQmcb3lw
— Rob Telles (@RobTellesLV) June 20, 2022
“Public administrator workers who previously spoke out about the alleged hostile work environment said within the past week that they still fear for their jobs because of a letter Telles posted on his campaign website ahead of the primary. They said they have reported their concerns to county human resources,” the story said.
“The letter attacked the Review-Journal and its reporting and claimed the allegations against Telles were false. It also leveled what the employees allege was a threat to retaliate against them for stepping forward,” it said.
