SWAT officer cleared in shooting at fugitive

Keith Paul

Tuesday, July 3, 2001 | 9:29 a.m.

Metro Police's use-of-force board has ruled a SWAT officer acted within department guidelines when he shot at a car carrying a man wanted in California, who had allegedly pointed a gun at the officer.

The seven-member Metro use-of-force board Friday night unanimously cleared Officer Patrick Ledbetter, an officer for six years, of any wrongdoing when he fired two shots at 27-year-old Chad Smith, Deputy Chief Ray Flynn said.

Metro Police had been watching for Smith, who was wanted in connection with a slaying, at Texas Station May 24 after receiving a tip from police in Chico, Calif., that his car was at the hotel.

Smith and a woman, Velvet Bennett, got into the car about 10:45 p.m. The car, with Smith in the passenger seat, fled as officers approached, and Smith raised a gun, according to police. Ledbetter fired two shots that hit the passenger door, but did not strike anyone, Flynn said.

Smith was later arrested near the North Las Vegas Airport. Bennett was arrested about 45 minutes later at a parking lot near Texas Station.

Smith was held as a fugitive from California. Bennett was charged with battery and giving false information to a police officer. She has a court appearance later this month.

Metro's use-of-force board, made up of four residents and three officers, reviews officers' actions when someone is killed or seriously hurt by an officer or whenever an officer fires a gun at a person.

The board has reviewed nine cases this year and has cleared the officers in each instance.