Officer quits before ruling in shooting

Keith Paul

Monday, May 22, 2000 | 11:32 a.m.

A North Las Vegas Police officer has quit the department before completion of an internal investigation into his shooting of a man in March.

Officer Dave Acosta resigned earlier this month after a use-of-force board ruled on his actions in the March 11 shooting of 22-year-old Celso Paz Lopez in the 2600 block of Soledad Street. The internal affairs investigation was still ongoing when Acosta resigned, said Lt. Chris Larotonda, a department spokesman.

Larotonda would not reveal what the use-of-force board recommended, noting he was told by the city attorney not to comment on the shooting or the decision.

The use-of-force board -- also known as a shooting board -- is charged with deciding whether an officer-involved shooting was within department guidelines.

Board members interview all of those involved with shootings and even re-enact incidents before making a recommendation, Larotonda said.

North Las Vegas City Attorney Sean McGowan said the matter is a personnel issue and he cannot comment.

The use-of-force board "led to a personnel matter on whether or not misconduct occurred," he said. "We are not trying to hide anything, but we have to balance the rights of all of those involved."

Another local police department -- Metro Police -- routinely releases the findings of its use of force boards in officer-involved shootings.

McGowan did say the city has been contacted by an attorney representing Lopez, but no lawsuit had been filed as of this morning.

In the March 11 shooting, officers were called to Soledad Street on reports of numerous shots being fired. SWAT officers were called out to the area and found three men coming out of a house on Soledad Street. Two of the men walked into the street and complied with officers' orders. One of the men went into the back yard of the house, police said.

Acosta approached Lopez, the man in the back yard. Acosta said he fired two shots after Lopez grabbed his gun. Lopez was hit in the right hip and recovered from his wounds.

Several guns were fired in the back yard of the house before police arrived. Police found about 45 spent shell casings, extra boxes of ammunition, a couple of cases of partially consumed beer and one handgun. It is against city ordinance to fire weapons in the city limits of North Las Vegas, and the men were given tickets.

Lopez was not charged criminally in connection with the shooting and does not face any charges. Lopez and his attorney could not be reached for comment this morning.

Acosta, an officer for eight years, could not be reached for comment this morning.

Keith Paul covers crime and public safety for the Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-4057 or by e-mail at keith@lasvegassun.com.