Las Vegas police reported the arrest of Clark County Democratic Public Administrator Robert Telles in "suspect" status for the murder of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German last weekend.
The 69-year-old victim was known for his investigations into organized crime and for revealing corruption schemes in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to information from the Clark County Coroner's Office, he died from "multiple stab wounds" in front of his home. Police had released images of an alleged suspect, and asked for help in identifying him.
Asking for the public's assistance identifying the suspect involved in the homicide that took place on September 3 near Vegas Dr & Tenaya Way.
Anyone with any info is urged to contact the LVMPD Homicide Section by phone at 702-828-7777 or @CrimeStoppersNV. pic.twitter.com/qhlwAwXsRj
- LVMPD (@LVMPD) September 5, 2022
Arrest of Democratic County Administrator
Police issued a search warrant at the home of public administrator Robert Telles, where he was questioned. Telles repeatedly refused to answer reporters' questions, according to a video posted on Twitter by a Review-Journal reporter.
Robert Telles just arrived at his house. Reporters asked him if he had any comment. I asked why police towed his vehicle. He had no comment. Story: https://t.co/3CSa7B4XeS pic.twitter.com/tgQ7JuI9BX
- Brett Clarkson (@BrettClarkson_) September 7, 2022
The breakthrough in the case came after police released an image of a vehicle linked to the murder suspect: a red or maroon GMC Yukon Denali - a vehicle that matches Telles'. In addition, his residence is less than 6 miles from German's home, where he was found dead.
The suspect 's home was surrounded by police officers with an investigation team, while he remained inside. 30 minutes later, Telles was taken out on a stretcher and in an ambulance, with no further information.
Police published that the suspect had been taken into custody. Telles is being held on a murder charge and has a court appearance scheduled for this Thursday afternoon.
The suspect in the homicide that occurred on September 2, 2022, has been taken into custody.
- LVMPD (@LVMPD) September 8, 2022
Telles-German relationship
Telles and German had previously been related. The administrator had been the subject of one of German's investigations. Fox11 notes that Telles lost his re-election bid in the primaries following a report by German about his abusive behavior in the workplace. Employees in the administrator's office had spoken of an alleged "hostile" work environment and that they feared for their jobs.
Clark County, Nevada Administrator Robert Telles was served with a search warrant in the murder investigation of Las Vegas Review-Journal journalist Jeff German.
Telles lost his re-election bid following German's reporting on his abusive workplace behavior. pic.twitter.com/FXi0tswhsc
- The Recount (@therecount) September 7, 2022
Telles had expressed complaints against German via Twitter on multiple occasions, claiming that the journalist was "obsessed" with him. Later, he called him a "bully." "I think he's mad because I didn't crawl into a hole and die," another tweet read.