Body of man on house arrest found in van

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office was investigating the death of a 46-year-old Gardnerville man whose body was found early Monday in the back of his van.

Frank Hetzel was discovered lying face down in the rear of his van at 1 a.m. in the parking lot of Kingsbury Manor apartments off Pine-wood Drive in Westwood, according to Douglas County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Tom Mezzetta.

Mezzetta said investigators did not suspect foul play but were awaiting autopsy results.

He said the sheriff's office had been contacted by Hetzel's probation officer because he had violated the terms of his house arrest on a domestic battery conviction.

Hetzel was found wearing his house arrest bracelet on his right ankle, Mezzetta said.

He said Hetzel's last contact with the sheriff's office had been May 8 when he was booked on new charges of annoying phone calls, threats, domestic battery and burglary.

n County officials said it will cost $10,000 to clean up graffiti spray-painted on the water tower at the end of Johnson Lane.

A deputy said the vandalism, reported May 12, was unrelated to an earlier report of graffiti on the water tower on Pinenut Road.

The suspect used red and white spray paint and what the deputy called "tagger-style" writing to deface the water tower. The writing was 6 feet high and 10 feet long, according the deputy.

n A 70-year-old man, wanted on several charges stemming from a 2000 grand larceny at Round Hill, is in Douglas County Jail on $15,000 bail.

Elias Leroy Archuleta, who uses several aliases, was arrested May 12 at Lyon County Jail and returned to Douglas County. He was charged with grand larceny, larceny of a firearm, petty larceny and two fugitive warrants.

Archuleta was hired in early 2000 as the caretaker of a 70-year-old Round Hill man.

The man's family stopped at the house July 19, 2000, to check on their father and found that Archuleta was gone.

Also missing was a vehicle and a .22-caliber pistol. Family members also found slips indicating Archuleta had pawned jewelry.

He also left behind a note apologizing to the family. He indicated he had spent time in prison and had been on the run. He said he was afraid someone knew his identity and he needed to flee the area.

A week later, the vehicle showed up parked across the street from the house with the keys on the floorboard.

n Three juveniles were spotted lighting fireworks at a construction site on Wild Onion Court by someone with a telescope, who reported them to authorities.

The trio was reportedly still lighting fireworks when East Fork Fire & Paramedic District units arrived at about 3:45 p.m. Friday.

They took off into the brush, but were wrapped up by a rescue unit. They told firefighters the fireworks ignited a bush. However, nothing was burning when firefighters arrived.

n The owner of a $10,000 diamond Rolex reported May 10 that the watch was missing from her styling salon on Esmeralda Avenue.

She said she stored the watch at the salon for safekeeping. When she looked for the watch, it was missing. The woman said the face of the watch was surrounded by diamonds and sapphires were embedded in the white metal band. The woman said it was common knowledge among her clients and colleagues that she kept the watch at the salon. She recalled last seeing the watch three weeks ago and said she had no idea who might have taken it.