Witnesses: Officer watched attack on fellow officer

Cathy Scott

Friday, May 16, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

It's not unusual for vagrants to attack Metro Police patrol officers. It is, however, unusual for a fellow officer to watch such an attack and do nothing.

This is what allegedly happened Monday as a female officer was attacked at the Arco station at Las Vegas Boulevard and Mesquite Avenue, near City Hall.

Witnesses say Metro Police traffic Capt. Carl Fruge was sitting on his motorcycle at the gas pumps when Officer Tanja Tavarez, a five-year veteran, was attacked by a man in a wheelchair.

An investigation is under way to determine why Fruge, a 19-year veteran and formerly a Metro spokesman, didn't step in to help the officer.

Capt. Frank Barker, who oversees the downtown substation where Tavarez works, said the roles of both officers are being investigated by Metro's Internal Affairs Bureau.

Tavarez, 29, had stopped the vagrant, who, although in a wheelchair, had full use of his upper body. During questioning, police said, the man attacked her. As she fought him off, she called for backup. Fruge, 43, did not step in.

Tavarez's thumb bone was chipped and she pulled some tendons in her hand trying to fend off the man. Two officers responded a few minutes later and helped Tavarez.

Witnesses reported to police that Fruge watched the attack. Afterward, he walked over to the officer and told her he would write a report on his account of the attack.

The officers' reports were completed and turned in to the downtown area command. Those reports, Barker said, have now been forwarded to Metro's Internal Affairs Bureau for review.

"Her account and his account are being reviewed," Barker said. "There are discrepancies in their reports -- allegations being made from one officer to the other. I'd like to not comment on it."

Fruge declined to discuss the incident. "That's going to be the subject of an investigation, so I can't comment," he said.

The suspect was arrested by backup patrol officers and Tavarez. If investigators determine that Tavarez suffered substantial bodily harm, the suspect will be charged with a felony. Otherwise, injury to an officer and resisting arrest are misdemeanors.