By Joan Patterson
Boulder City Review
Last week Boulder City Police with the help of federal agents searched the office and home of Boulder Township Chief Constable Larry Markotay the day after he was arrested on felony charges in connection with the burglary of firearms from his former girlfriend’s home.
While executing the search warrants on March 11, police found 85 firearms including 35 rifles and six shotguns, and more than two dozen badges from various agencies including a Boulder City police captain’s badge. The searches took place at his office, 505 Avenue G, his home and three storage facilities on Nevada Highway, Canyon Road and Foothill Drive, according to Boulder City police.
While his duties as constable permit Markotay, 42, to order firearms, police have not been able to find records of the transactions.
The Las Vegas branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the searches upon the request of local police. According to Thomas Chittum, resident agent in charge of the Las Vegas office, the bureau is conducting an investigation into the legality of Markotay’s ownership of the firearms but that does not include the quantity.
“I don’t want people to think we get involved because there’s a lot of firearms. We investigate legality not quantity,” he said.
According to Boulder City Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration was also involved because of information that Markotay was in possession of “excessive” amounts of prescription medication. During the search, baggies and syringes were found, said Lt. Dan Jennings of the Boulder City Police.
Last week’s events stem from a Feb. 22 car crash during which Markotay hit a pole near Utah and Seventh streets, then fled the scene. He was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence. Local police also found a total of four guns either inside the vehicle or laying on the ground near the scene of the accident.
Three of the firearms, all handguns, matched those taken from the Boulder City home of Markotay’s ex-girlfriend, Cathleen Winterrowd, about a week earlier. Winterrowd told police she had been out to dinner when the burglary occurred, and that four guns and a digital camera had been taken. Because all of the items had been gifts from Markotay, she believed he was the one who picked the lock on her door and burglarized her home, according to reports.
After an investigation, Boulder City police arrested the constable on March 10 and charged him with burglary with the use of a deadly weapon, possession of stolen property and three counts of grand larceny. His felony arraignment is scheduled to take place at 9 a.m. March 22 in Henderson Justice Court.
Investigations continue regarding the items that were found during last week’s searches.
Markotay and Winterrowd started dating in 2006, and their relationship ended in August 2009. According to statements made by Winterrowd in police reports, Markotay had given her the guns after making her a reserve constable in December of 2008, although she had never received Peace Officers Standards and Training certification through the state of Nevada. Along with the guns, he had also given her a badge and identification card.
Markotay has had the job of chief constable since 1998. It is an elected position with peace officer duties including serving civil papers such as orders of protection and evictions, Jennings said. He is also Boulder City’s code enforcement officer.
Reporter Jack Johnson contributed to this report.
