Friday, Oct. 3, 2003 | 11:29 a.m.
An 18-year-old man recovering from a shotgun blast fired by a North Las Vegas Police officer in August is suing the department and the officer for $5 million.
North Las Vegas Police officials say that Lamar Kiles, 18, appeared to be reaching for a gun when he was shot in an apartment complex in the early morning hours of Aug. 13, but Kiles' attorney, Brent Bryson, says Kiles was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"This is a good kid, who had signed up for culinary arts classes at the community college," Bryson said. "He didn't have a weapon, and he was standing under a street light when he was shot.
"He was lit up like a candle and there was no reason for him to be shot."
Kiles, who has not been charged with any crime in connection with the shooting, remains hospitalized at University Medical Center with a shattered pelvis that Bryson says could keep him from walking again.
Kiles' sister, Sherita Thomas, said the family decided to file the suit to help pay for medical bills.
"The doctors have told us that it will be 1 1/2 years before he may be able to get out of the hospital and then a rehab hospital," Thomas said. "The main focus of our family has been on his recovery."
The suit alleges that Officer Robinson Reed, who has been with North Las Vegas Police for more than seven years, violated Kiles' civil rights, used excessive force and shot him despite Kiles not posing a threat.
Kiles had gone to the Judith Villas complex, 711 E. Nelson Ave., near Carey Avenue and Interstate 15, to visit his cousin Michael Harris, according to the suit.
Earlier in the evening gang members had shot at Kiles mistaking him for his cousin, and when Kiles told his cousin this, Harris left the apartment, according to the suit. Shortly thereafter, Kiles heard a commotion outside, and when he went to investigate, he encountered several North Las Vegas Police officers, the suit alleges.
Police said Kiles was one of two people who came up behind officers, and when Kiles was ordered to put his hands up, his movement made Reed fear for his life. The officer then shot Kiles.
Police said they found no weapon on Kiles, but they found a handgun about 15 feet from where he fell.
Thomas said her family believes that Kiles did nothing to warrant being shot by Reed.
"We just hope that people would use a little better judgment," Thomas said. "I'm not an officer, and I know they're scared when they're out there, but not everyone is out to get them.
"It's just an unfortunate situation."
The North Las Vegas Police force-review board found that Reed's actions fell within the department's use of force policy, department spokesman Justin Roberts said.
Roberts said the department's policy is not to comment on pending litigation.
Kiles does have a criminal record. He was arrested by North Las Vegas Police in July for domestic battery, and was picked up several times as a juvenile, according to police, but those records are sealed.
Also named as plaintiffs in the suit are Kiles' 6-month-old son Lamareon Kiles. The suit alleges that there could be a loss of familial rights that will interfere with Lamareon Kiles' rights.
"We don't know if he'll (Lamar Kiles) be able to ever walk with his son," Bryson said.
Bryson said that Kiles' case is similar to other cases he has had in the past and are indicative of a problem with police training.
"I think police are trained to use buzz words, and 'furtive movement' seems to be the one that works in this community," Bryson said, referring to the police allegation about Kiles' actions. "I depose officers all the time, and I ask them what a 'furtive movement' is, and they can never explain it.
"I'm hoping that one day a case will open the door so that the very few police officers who don't play by the rules can be weeded out."
Bryson most recently represented the mother of John Perrin, a 32-year-old man who was shot and killed by Metro Police on April 12, 1999. Perrin was shot six times by an officer who said he saw him reach into his waistband and grab something metallic.
The item turned out to be a jar of iodine crystals, a chemical used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Perrin's mother, Connie Perrin, lost the $25 million lawsuit when a jury determined that the police officer did not use excessive force.
"We were offered a settlement in that trial, but we want these cases to be decided by the community," Bryson said. "There won't be a settlement in this case either. We're going to keep plugging away and let the community decide."
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