Officers cleared in shooting of suspect

Jen Lawson

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004 | 9:38 a.m.

Metro Police's use-of-force board has exonerated two officers involved in a fatal shooting of a knife-wielding shoplifting suspect as well as two K-9 officers who shot at a carjacking suspect who later committed suicide.

The board determined Pasquale Varrati and Benjamin Cohen were justified in shooting at Charles Rorie in September 2003 at Desert Breeze Park, Deputy Chief Greg McCurdy said.

Rorie, 21 had allegedly stolen a stolen a bottle of Olde English 800 malt liquor from a Chevron station across the street from the park when Varrati and Cohen, in plain clothes, confronted him.

Rorie allegedly pulled out a foot-long knife and came toward the officers, who were ordering him to drop the weapon.

When he ignored their commands, the officers fired their handguns at Rorie, killing him.

The officers were cleared by a Clark County coroner's inquest jury in October.

The board also determined that K-9 officers David Newton and John Jenkins were within department guidelines when they fired shots at Daniel Nunez, 23, in October.

Nunez carjacked five vehicles, including one belonging to a Paiute tribal officer. Newton and Jenkins chased Nunez and exchanged gunfire with them before Nunez stole one of the K-9 sport utility vehicles and fled.

As he led Metro officers on a chase along U.S. 95, Nunez shot himself in the head. He also shot a police dog trainee, Buddy.

The use of force board, composed of four citizens and three law enforcement officers, handed down the decisions Jan. 28. The board reviews officers' actions when someone is killed or seriously hurt by an officer or whenever an officer shoots at a citizen.