LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Las Vegas Metropolitan police took Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles into custody on Wednesday, hours after investigators searched his home in connection with Review-Journal reporter Jeff German’s stabbing death.
Telles faces a charge of open murder with a deadly weapon, records showed. He was taken into custody with self-inflicted wounds, sources told the 8 News Now Investigators. DNA also links Telles to the crime scene, sources said
Telles was expected in court Thursday at 1:30 p.m. to face a charge of open murder with the use of a deadly weapon.
An ambulance took Telles to University Medical Center around 6:30 p.m. He was then due to be booked into the Clark County Detention Center.
Telles was the focus of recent investigative stories by the longtime investigative journalist.
Police spent much of Wednesday at Telles’ home, which is located near Charleston Boulevard and Hualapai Way. Investigators did not say what they found if anything that led them to arrest Telles.
Investigators had released a photo of an SUV connected to the crime, which sources told the 8 News Now Investigators matched one of Telles’ cars.
Police had released video and images of the suspect on Tuesday and said it appeared he was casing German’s neighborhood.
Officers left the home around 2 p.m. Wednesday and Telles returned shortly after wearing a white paper suit. Sources told 8 News Now that Telles had been meeting with investigators. It was unclear Wednesday why Telles was released and then arrested hours later.
Around 4:15 p.m., an officer knocked on Telles’ door and he did not respond. Police moved reporters away from the house several times afterward.
German, 69, was found stabbed to death outside of his home on Saturday morning, Sept. 3. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said he was killed on Friday morning but not discovered until the next day.
Telles, a Democrat, lost a three-way primary in June. In online posts following the election, Telles appeared to blame German for his election loss.
In a series of tweets, Telles became publicly critical of German’s reports. In one tweet, Telles wrote: “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.'”
Later, Telles wrote online that German was “[dragging him] through the mud.” He included a letter he sent to German, which said he would not let the allegations affect his work moving forward.
Telles last tweeted July 3, claiming he lost his primary due to a “[manufactured] scandal.”
Police towed a dark-red SUV from Telles’ home on Wednesday afternoon, one day after investigators released a photo of a similar car seen driving away from the murder scene.
“The arrest of Robert Telles is at once an enormous relief and an outrage for the Review-Journal newsroom,” Review-Journal executive editor Glenn Cook said in a statement. “We are relieved Robert Telles is in custody and outraged that a colleague appears to have been killed for reporting on an elected official. Journalists can’t do the important work our communities require if they are afraid a presentation of facts could lead to violent retribution. We thank Las Vegas police for their urgency and hard work and for immediately recognizing the terrible significance of Jeff’s killing. Now, hopefully, the Review-Journal, the German family and Jeff’s many friends can begin the process of mourning and honoring a great man and a brave reporter. Godspeed, Jeff.”
