The home of a Las Vegas county administrative official was raided by cops Wednesday in connection with the fatal stabbing of local investigative reporter Jeff German — whom he had previously accused of targeting him in a “smear” campaign.
Police carried out the search warrant at the home of Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, who had been the subject of a string of recent stories by the slain reporter, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Police arrived at the home around 6:30 a.m., blocking off streets and searching the house before releasing a statement around 9 a.m. confirming that they were executing search warrants in connection to German’s murder. No other details were provided.
Authorities had released a photo on Tuesday of a vehicle that may have been used by a possible suspect in German’s stabbing — a red or maroon GMC Yukon Denali, matching the description of an SUV observed in Telles’ driveway, according to the paper.
The SUV and a second vehicle were towed from Telles’ property at about 12:50 p.m on Wednesday, the Review-Journal reported.
Telles’ home is located roughly six miles from where German was killed.
Las Vegas Metro Police didn’t specify the exact address they were searching or offer any further details of the investigation into Friday’s deadly stabbing.
Police have raided the home of Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles in connection to the death of journalist Jeff German (above). K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal via APGerman, a 69-year-old Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter, had spent months reporting on the turmoil surrounding Telles’ oversight of the office — including allegations of “emotional stress, bullying and favoritism,” according to the outlet.
The administrator, 45, had lost his re-election bid in June’s primary election in the wake of German’s reporting being published.
Telles, a Democrat, repeatedly referenced the reporter and his articles on Twitter, writing in a June 18 tweet: “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.”
Telles (above right) had been the subject of a series of recent stories by German.
In another tweet that day, Telles wrote: “Wife hears rustling in the trash* Her: ‘Honey, is there a wild animal in the trash?’ Me: ‘No, dear. Look like it’s @JGermanRJ going through our trash for his 4th story on me.’ Oh, Jeff…”
Telles did not respond to requests for comment in the wake of the search warrant.
The search warrant was executed after authorities released a photo on Tuesday of a vehicle that could have been used by a possible suspect in German’s stabbing.
Police also released surveillance images of the possible suspect, but the photos don’t show the person’s full face.
Police execute a search warrant at Telles’ home. AP
Telles tweeted about the Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter (above) in reference to a “smear piece” in June. Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP
A photo of the suspect wanted in connection to German’s fatal stabbing. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police DepartmentThe images show the person wearing a wide straw hat, an orange reflective shirt and carrying a shoulder bag.
Police said the reporter, who was found fatally stabbed outside his home Friday, had gotten into a confrontation with the suspect.
“We do believe the person was in the area earlier casing for other crimes,” a police spokesperson said.
German died of “multiple sharp force injuries,” the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner said.
