Police name officer, man he shot to death

Tuesday, June 26, 2001 | 10:31 a.m.

The names of the Henderson Police officer and the man he shot to death Saturday were released this morning.

Officer James Tetzlaff killed 55-year-old Bernardo A. Caberto after the man attacked him with a knife during a traffic stop, police said.

Tetzlaff, 27, pulled over a car driven by Caberto about 11:50 p.m. Saturday on Green Valley Parkway south of Interstate 215 for a traffic violation.

Caberto became agitated and aggressive toward the officer as he tried to conduct the stop. Police said witnesses told them that the driver grabbed a large knife from his car and started toward the officer.

Tetzlaff, an officer for three years, told the man to drop the knife and backed away from him, police said.

Tetzlaff pulled out his pepper spray, but he did not use it because the man started advancing on him. Tetzlaff fired twice striking Caberto both times, police said.

Caberto died at the scene. A Clark County coroner's inquest will determine if the shooting was justified. A date for the inquest has not been set.

Tetzlaff will remain on paid administrative leave until the outcome of the inquest.