Sergeant cleared by board

Keith Paul

Monday, June 4, 2001 | 9:51 a.m.

Metro Police's use-of-force board ruled a robbery sergeant acted within department policy when he shot a robbery suspect who was accused of pointing a gun at the officer.

The seven-member board unanimously cleared Sgt. Paul Pagano, 35, of any wrongdoing when he shot 25-year-old Jeffery Brimite March 9 in the 3200 block of East Flamingo Road, Deputy Chief Ray Flynn said.

Pagano was watching a group of businesses that had been the targets of robberies about 6 p.m on March 9. Pagano told investigators he saw a masked man go into a Mail Boxes Etc. store, and when the suspect came out, he ordered him to drop his gun, police said.

The suspect, identified as Brimite, was accused of raising his gun, and Pagano fired a shot from a shotgun, knocking Brimite to the ground. Brimite is accused of getting up and running toward a neighboring business and Pagano fired again, hitting Brimite, police said.

Brimite was taken to University Medical Center and recovered from his wounds. A preliminary hearing in July in Las Vegas Justice Court will determine whether he will face trial on various felony charges.

Metro's use-of-force board, made up of four citizens 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 determines if the officers acted within department guidelines.