Woman’s family sues NLV Police, alleging excessive use of force

Greg Tuttle

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000 | 11:09 a.m.

Relatives of a woman who died two years ago after being arrested by officers of the North Las Vegas Police Department have filed a federal lawsuit alleging the officers used excessive force.

The lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court by Toni Amelia Parker and Tumeaka Nicole Ransome seeks unspecified damages from the police department, the city of North Las Vegas and five officers.

According to the lawsuit, Gloria Parker died a day after she was arrested on Sept. 17, 1998, while leaving the Desert Market at the corner of Gowan Road and Coleman Street. Parker was grabbed by the arm and hair and her face sprayed with pepper spray before she was "violently" thrown to the ground, the lawsuit claims.

Parker, who was 35, stopped breathing and lost consciousness after being handcuffed, the lawsuit says. She died the next day.

North Las Vegas Police Department spokesman Lt. Art Redcay said this morning he could not comment on the lawsuit. Daniel Simon, the attorney representing Parker and Ransome, could not be reached by press deadline for comment this morning.