Las Vegas man sues cops

Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005 | 9:41 a.m.

A Las Vegas man has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Metro Police, alleging that he was beaten and hog-tied by a Metro officer during a traffic stop last year.

The suit, filed last week by Don Fields and his attorney, Cal Potter, is seeking more than $10,000 in damages.

According to the complaint, Fields had left the Castaway Casino early in the morning on Feb. 3, 2003. Shortly after, Fields ran out of gas at about 3 a.m. at the intersection of 21st and Fremont streets.

Officers arrived and commanded Fields to lay down, and then he was, "beaten then cuffed and hog-tied," according to the complaint.

The complaint goes on to allege that Fields woke up in the Clark County Detention Center laying in a pool of blood. It says officers are inadequately trained and supervised, and acts of brutality are tolerated by the department.

Detention center officers allegedly showed, "deliberate indifference" to Fields' constitutional rights.

Fields suffered physical and mental pain and suffering, according to the suit.

The suit alleges that Fields' rights to be free from unreasonable search and seizure were violated, and that excessive force was used against him.