Las Vegas police search Democratic county official's home in connection with murder of journalist

Police in Las Vegas have executed a search warrant at the home of a Democratic county official in connection with the suspected murder of a local journalist, authorities said.

Las Vegas police confirmed Wednesday that a search warrant was executed at the home of Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles (D), who was the focus of several recent investigative stories by Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, KLAS-TV reports.

German, 69, was found stabbed to death outside his home on Saturday morning. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said he was killed on Friday morning but was not discovered until the next day.

Police said German appeared to be in an altercation with another person that led to the stabbing.

He died of "multiple sharp force injuries" in a homicide, the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner said, according to NBC News.

Police released video and images of the suspect and what is believed to be the suspect's vehicle. The video shows an unidentified suspect wearing a wide straw hat, gloves, and a bright orange shirt or jacket. The vehicle is described as being a 2007-2014 red or maroon GMC Yukon Denali with chrome handles, a sunroof, and a luggage rack, KLAS reported.

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A similar vehicle was pictured in Telles' driveway.

Telles was the subject of news stories written by German in May that reported "allegations of emotional stress, bullying and favoritism leading to secret videotaping of the boss and a co-worker outside the office."

According to German's reporting, a half-dozen current and former employees in Telles' office alleged the administrator had created a "hostile work environment" by carrying on an "inappropriate relationship" with a staffer who was accused of overstepping her authority.

Telles, who sought reelection this year, lost the Democratic primary in June after the news reports were published. He denied the allegations when the Las Vegas Review-Journal published German's stories.

Prior to German's death, Telles posted several messages on Twitter accusing the reporter of lying about him.

"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 tweeted on June 18.

In another tweet he said, "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…"

The Review-Journal reported that Telles' whereabouts Wednesday were unknown as police searched his home.

The paper's executive editor Glenn Cooks said German had never given any indication he thought his life or personal safety had been threatened before his death.

“The Review-Journal family is devastated to lose Jeff,” Cook said. “He was the gold standard of the news business. It’s hard to imagine what Las Vegas would be like today without his many years of shining a bright light on dark places.”