Metro robbery detective accused of lying

Jen Lawson

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2003 | 10:57 a.m.

A Metro Police robbery detective better known as the department's former media spokesman is facing termination for allegedly lying about an off-duty shooting, authorities said.

Tirso Dominguez is suspected of firing at least five shots into the air in the area of Bonanza Road and Eastern Avenue and then fleeing in his unmarked Metro car on July 25; he then lied to Metro officials during the internal investigation, Undersheriff Doug Gillespie said.

Dominguez, 38, faces a pretermination hearing Oct. 30. He has been on paid leave since July 26, authorities said.

He could not be reached for comment.

He is accused of "multiple violations of department policy, one of which includes truthfulness," Gillespie said. He would not say what the his other alleged violations were.

Metro officials felt the incident was serious enough to submit to the Clark County District Attorney's Office, and sought charges against Dominguez for illegally discharging a firearm, a gross misdemeanor.

But after reviewing the file, District Attorney David Roger declined to file charges.

"I felt that based on the evidence that was presented to me, there was insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt," Roger said.

Several citizens called 911 reporting the sound of gunshots being fired near Bonanza and Eastern about 9:20 p.m. on July 25.

As patrol units were arriving, they saw a car fleeing the scene.

"They stopped the vehicle, and Tirso was driving it," Gillespie said. "It turned out there was a .32-caliber semi-automatic handgun in the car, and Tirso told officers it was his."

Another person was in the passenger seat. Authorities wouldn't release that person's identity. After interviewing Dominguez further, Dominguez was permitted to leave with the gun.

At the scene of the shooting, officers later found five shell casings from a .32-caliber semi-automatic handgun, and officers "also determined several factors that placed him at the scene, including witness accounts."

An internal investigation began that night and, based on some initial findings, Dominguez was relieved of his duties July 26.

"The allegation is that during the internal investigation he was not truthful with the investigators," Gillespie said. However, he declined to elaborate, saying, "In cases like this, we don't always release the exact sustained findings because they are subject to change."

Roger said he told Metro officials earlier this month if they uncover more evidence he would look at the case again. A major impediment to the case was officers "had lost physical control of the gun," and they were unable to determine if the shell casings at the scene matched the weapon that was in Dominguez's car.

"They did not recover the firearm. It was unclear who was firing the shots, and there were no eyewitnesses to say if Tirso Dominguez fired the shots or if the passenger did," Roger said.

Dominguez's superiors reviewed the internal affairs investigation and recommended to Assistant Sheriff Michael Zagorski that he be terminated. Zagorski submitted the case to the pre-termination board.

Dominguez will have the opportunity to present his side and call witnesses during next week's pre-termination hearing. He will be represented by a member of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, and an attorney for the union is also expected to attend, according to David Kallas, executive director of the LVPPA, the union representing Metro's rank-and-file officers.

The board will make its recommendation to Sheriff Bill Young, who is expected to make his final decision by Nov. 10 as to what, if any, discipline Dominguez should receive. The discipline is expected to be either a "major suspension" or termination, Gillespie said.

Lt. Ted Snodgrass, Dominguez's supervisor in the robbery unit, declined to comment because it is a personnel issue.

Dominguez joined Metro in 1990. Beginning in January 2000, he worked in Metro's public information office, serving as the department's primary spokesman for Spanish language media outlets.

He worked closely with the Hispanic community on public safety issues and hosted a monthly Spanish radio program.

Dominguez was promoted to the rank of detective and was assigned to the robbery unit in November 2002.

The only other incident that authorities said they could recall involving an off-duty police officer illegally firing a weapon was the Ron Mortensen case.

Mortensen, a patrol officer in southwest Las Vegas, was sentenced in May 1997 to life in prison without the possibility of parole in connection with a December 1996 drive-by shooting of a 21-year-old gang member.