Couple sues Metro over action after shooting in Laughlin

Friday, Oct. 3, 2003 | 11:30 a.m.

A California couple has filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming Metro Police officers improperly detained and roughed them up after the April 2002 shooting that left three motorcycle gang members dead in Laughlin.

The lawsuit alleging civil rights violations was filed Thursday by Las Vegas lawyer Brent Bryson on behalf of Robert Garcia and Noi Lewis of Los Angeles.

The lawsuit, seeking $1 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages, says neither Garcia nor Lewis are affiliated with biker gangs or had anything to do with the shootings. The couple said they had traveled to Southern Nevada for the annual Laughlin River Run, a motorcycle convention, and were"lawfully and peacefully staying at Harrah's Hotel."

Last week members of the Mongols motorcycle club filed a lawsuit claiming that Harrah's did not provide adequate protection for their guests and that resulted in an attack on them by members of the rival Hells Angels. The incident left two Hells Angels and one Mongol dead.

On their way to the parking lot on the day of the shooting, Lewis and Garcia were stopped by unnamed Metro Police officers, led down a ramp at gunpoint, handcuffed "and thrown to the ground," the suit says.

The fall exposed Lewis' breasts and ripped her skirt, the suit says, noting that when Garcia complained about it he "sustained the first of several beatings as one Metro officer came over to Garcia and began to beat him about the shoulders and back area with his baton."

The couple allege in the suit they were detained for 12 to 14 hours. Garcia suffered seizures when police refused to either allow him to go to his hotel room to get his medicine or to get it for him, the suit says. Police also denied Garcia's requests for a drink of water, the suit says.

Garcia was later taken to a hospital, the suit says.

Metro officials do not comment on pending litigation.