Neal raises claims of racial profiling

Dan Kulin

Thursday, Nov. 6, 2003 | 9:12 a.m.

State Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, on Wednesday accused North Las Vegas Police of having officers that practice racial profiling and questioned the judgment of the city's Municipal Court judge.

Neal admitted he doesn't have any statistical proof of racial profiling by the police, and he hasn't reviewed any official records to check his claim. Neal said his proof is anecdotal, and something he's been hearing from people over the past year.

Police Chief Mark Paresi wouldn't comment on Neal's accusation, and Mayor Michael Montandon said he hasn't heard any recent complaints of racial profiling by city police, although he will have Paresi check into the claim.

Neal's statements came during and after the North Las Vegas City Council meeting on Wednesday night.

Neal attended the meeting with Community College of Southern Nevada teacher Dorothy Ukaegbu, who told the council she was a victim of racial profiling earlier this year. Neal and Ukaegbu are black.

Ukaegbu said that around 3 p.m. on April 28, a motorcycle police officer followed her from the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Craig Road, which is near her home, south on Martin Luther King and then pulled her over just past the intersection with Carey Avenue.

The officer told her she had run a red light. But Ukaegbu said the light was just turning yellow when she entered the intersection and she knows she did not run a red light.

She complained to the police chief, who responded with a letter saying her accusations were unfounded, so she took the matter to court.

But Ukaegbu said Municipal Judge Warren Van Landschoot didn't let her tell her whole side of the story during her court hearing. He then ruled against her, leaving her with a $514 fine.

Now Ukaegbu is appealing Van Landschoot's decision to District Court.

"I know I am innocent," she said.

Neal said he's concerned about Van Landschoot's decision and alleged actions in the courtroom.

Van Landschoot said that while he could not comment on Ukaegbu's case because she is appealing it, he said who Ukaegbu is or what race she is certainly had no bearing on him.