75-year-old man sues Boulder City Police

Jace Radke

Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004 | 11:12 a.m.

A 75-year-old man who suffers from Alzheimer's disease has filed a federal lawsuit against Boulder City Police alleging that an officer assaulted him and slammed him to the ground during a 2002 traffic stop.

Robert Parker, who was 73 when the incident occurred, alleges that his civil rights were violated and that the officer broke three of his ribs, according to the suit filed earlier this month.

Parker is asking for a judgment of more than $75,000 from the department and former Officer Joseph Norte. The city cleared Norte of any wrongdoing in an internal investigation and the Justice Department did not charge him with a crime.

Norte resigned from the force in 2003.

According to the lawsuit, Parker was a passenger in a car on Aug. 15, 2002, when Norte and Officer Michael Daniel, who is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, pulled the vehicle over because it was suspected of being involved in a hit-and-run accident in Las Vegas.

After getting out of the car, Parker refused two orders to drop a cigarette, according to police reports. Officers said they tried to handcuff him and a struggle ensued. Police slammed Parker onto the hood of a car and to the ground before successfully cuffing him, the suit states.

In September 2002 a city police board determined Parker's accusations against Norte were unfounded, and Police Chief Bill Turk requested the FBI investigate the claims.