Man breaks into Las Vegas wastewater facility, manipulating operations: police
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A man gained access to Las Vegas’ main wastewater treatment facility, manipulating the plant’s operations, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.
The incident happened on March 23 at the Clark County Water Reclamation District’s wastewater treatment facility on East Flamingo Road, according to Las Vegas Metro police. That morning, Metro police officers responded to the district’s 740-acre plant for a report of a person who broke through two fences and accessed several switches, documents said.
Officers located Isaac Mendoza, 26, in the wash next to the property, they said. According to police, Mendoza allegedly tore through one fence and then broke a second chain-link fence to gain access to the plant.
While on the property, Mendoza allegedly manipulated the power to several pumps, which stopped “service processes” in the plant, police said. One of the machines alerted a technician, who then alerted security who found Mendoza.
The plant handles roughly 100 million gallons of wastewater a day, treating it and sending it to Lake Mead.
For the March 23 incident, Mendoza faces charges of theft or damage to a public utility and burglary.
“The Flamingo Water Resource Center is a protected, secured facility monitored with 24-hour security,” a spokesperson for the water reclamation district said. “The incident in question is subject to a criminal investigation, limiting the comments we can provide. Notwithstanding, initial information suggests that the individual may have used a misplaced piece of construction equipment on the exterior of the facility to get over a fence. We have addressed that issue to prevent future incidents. Staff and security responded to the event within minutes, to alleviate any disruption to operations. Security is and remains a top priority at the district.”
It was unclear how long Mendoza was on the property before the technician alerted security. Records show Mendoza was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on March 28, though he has other open criminal cases in Henderson and Las Vegas justice courts.
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