Widow sues cop over fatal crash

Tuesday, July 20, 1999 | 10:46 a.m.

The widow of a magician killed last year in a collision with a Metro Police officer responding to an emergency call filed a lawsuit in District Court Monday alleging, among other things, that police training is inadequate.

Named as defendants in the lawsuit are the city of Las Vegas, Sheriff Jerry Keller, Officer Edward V. Jones and the Nevada Power Co.

The suit filed on behalf of Lorena Brazil seeks damages "in excess of $10,000."

Anthony "Chappy" Brazil, 34, was riding a motorcycle the night of June 27, 1998, when he was struck by a patrol car driven by Jones.

Brazil died instantly in the collision. Jones, 36, was treated for minor head injuries.

Jones later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of careless driving and failure to maintain travel lane.

The officer, who could have been sentenced to a year in jail, completed Metro's driving school, paid a $2,000 fine and was suspended for a month.

According to the suit, Jones was driving his police cruiser when he overheard a call on police dispatch regarding a domestic disturbance call that involved a man with a gun more than six miles from where Jones was at the time.

The accident occurred on Industrial Road near Oquendo Road. Jones was en route to the Arville Park Apartments, near Pennwood Avenue.

The suit claims Jones raced toward the address of the call at speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour while crossing over the center line and into opposing traffic in a "deliberate and reckless manner."

The decision to charge Jones with a misdemeanor came after an independent accident reconstruction expert investigated the collision site and data and determined Jones was traveling about double the posted 35 mph speed limit.

Prosecutors said there was no indication of improper driving by Brazil.

Keller was named in the suit for allegedly having a policy that permitted Jones' reckless driving.

The suit added there was "limited and inadequate supervision of officers."

Nevada Power was named in the suit for allegedly failing to restore electrical power to street lights in the area of Industrial Road where the accident occurred.

Poor lighting is being cited as a contributing factor in the fatal accident.

Brazil, a Las Vegas resident, portrayed Octavius in the Caesars Magical Empire when the magic stage show opened at Caesars Palace hotel-casino in June 1996.