Henderson Police officer on leave after shooting at car in parking lot

Monday, Jan. 5, 2004 | 11:14 a.m.

A Henderson Police officer was on paid administrative leave today and a Las Vegas man was in the Henderson jail after the officer shot at a driver who appeared to be drunk Saturday night, police said.

Howard DiPietro, 39, surrendered to Henderson Police Sunday afternoon and was booked into the Henderson jail about 5:45 p.m. on a charge of attempted murder of a police officer, Henderson Police spokesman Keith Paul said.

About 7:30 p.m. Saturday a uniformed Henderson Police officer on a dinner break at the Village Pub on Sunset Road spotted a man who appeared to be drunk heading for his car in the restaurant's parking lot, Paul said.

The officer yelled at the man to stop, but the man ignored the officer and kept heading to his car, Paul said. The man got into his car and the officer again ordered him to stop, Paul said. The driver started the car as the officer ordered him to stop a third time, Paul said.

The officer, whose name was not released for 48 hours, said the man instead accelerated toward him, Paul said. The officer fired two shots at the car, which drove away, Paul said.

The officer was not injured. Both shots hit the car, and the driver also was not injured, Paul said.

DiPietro had a court appearance today, at which bail probably would be set, Paul said. The car, a 1990 gold Acura two-door sedan, was located in the area of Hacienda Avenue and Mountain Vista Street, he said.

The officer is on paid administrative leave, per department policy, Paul said.