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twitterMetro officer fatally shoots man in northwest valley
Police say man wanted in sex assault case fought with officers
Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun
Metro Police investigate after a man was shot and killed by a detective shortly before 1 p.m. July 1 in the 5500 block of Alexander Drive. The shooting took place as two detectives tried to question the man in a sexual assault and domestic violence case they were working.
Published Wednesday, July 1, 2009 | 2:04 p.m.
Updated Thursday, July 2, 2009 | 5:39 p.m.
Officer-involved shooting
A man was shot and killed by a Metro Police detective Wednesday afternoon shortly before 1 p.m. as two detectives tried to question him in a sexual assault and domestic violence case they were working.
The detectives, in plain clothes, were questioning the man near the El Jen Convalescent Center, 5538 Duncan Drive, near Alexander Drive, Helen Street and Rancho Drive, said Officer Bill Cassell. The case involved domestic violence battery and sexual assault with a child under the age of 14, he said.
After questioning the man, the detectives went to place him under arrest but the man ran away from the detectives and they began a foot pursuit, Cassell said.
Detectives chased him between a quarter- and a half-mile, firing a Taser at the man, Cassell said. The device failed to stop him.
One of the detectives caught up with him and the confrontation became physical. During the altercation, the man began to fight and the detective fired his handgun twice, fatally wounding the man, Cassell said.
The identity of the man has not been released by the Clark County Coroner's Office.
Cassell said that during the chase, a citizen in a gold Ford Crown Victoria tried to block the man's escape, but the car left the scene. Police would like to commend the person who came to the aid of the officers, Cassell said.
One or both detectives will be placed on paid administrative leave until the investigation into the shooting is completed, Cassell said.
Per department policy, the identity of the detective will be released 48 hours after the incident.
This is the 10th officer-involved shooting in the Las Vegas Valley this year, Cassell said.
Discussion: 60 comments so far…
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Surprise, surprise! This is 9th police shooting in seven months. That is more than one shooting a month in Las Vegas.
Some people need to be shot.
Target practice
Anyone who is willing to run from the cops and resist arrest deserves what is coming to them. If he was completely innocent of any sexual assault or domestic violence charges, why would he object to being questioned, and henceforth run away from cops?
Like I said, he deserved whatever he had coming if he is evading the cops.
Don't you think the perp was guilty as sin? I've never heard of an innocent man running away from 2 gumshoes performing a routine inverstigation, except for David Jannson (The Fugitive).
All we know is what the police tell us happen. They should wear helmet cams so we can all watch these incidents and decide if the shootings are justified or not. We could put cameras in the police cars and use helmet cams so we could watch every move our police force makes. Put everything live on the internet and let us watch the live streaming video 24 hrs a day. We might all have a better opinion of what our officers go through. We might also have a better idea of what to expect when they suspect a citizen.
The man was unarmed!! There is NO excuse for this shooting!!
Well, if he went for the officer's gun then the shooting would be justified but there's no mention of that. Just fighting with the officer in and of itself is not a reason for killing someone.
Yet another bs story and police cover-up.
The pair who killed him should have probably let the guy go to be caught by others down the street no doubt. Instead they took it personally the guy ran on them, gasp. The predictable fight insured and they shot the guy who was so damn important to talk with. Well you can't do that now, can you?
Metro is totally out of control. They are untrained, stupid, do not know the laws, and think their job is playing cops and robbers.
Unk,
I will be the first person to sit across from your house eating popcorn when you suffer the humiliation and fear of being broken into...and then whine to the police for not being there quick enough; not stopping the crooks when seen fleeing the scene; blah blah blah.
The only thing more amusing to watch would be you put into a position of life or death, whether is was protecting yours or possibly taking anothers. However, until that time comes, and we all know that someone such as you will always hide behind others thus making it easy to throw negative "darts" at everyone around, there is only one thing to be said -
Beat it.
There were at the guy's work location. They knew who he was, where he worked etc etc. He ran, LET HIM GO, you will get him eventually. Chase him and you get hostage taking and open yourself up to getting shot at. This is dumb police work yeta again and the familiar CYA work by Metro higher-ups. They screwed-up, killed a guy, and now the story begins.
Umm...suspect runs from detectives who want to arrest his for felonious sexual assault on a minor...and we're acting like this is excessive force?
Honestly, save your tears for the real victims.
Unless new facts turn up, Metro did the right thing. Thank you, Metro.
I generally have little tolerance of state employees shooting someone, but you don't run from peace officers asking you questions. You call a lawyer. If you run and then assault those peace officers... well that's just suicide via the machine. Can't blame the machine for that.
Does someone have facts here that I don't know about? KillerB, would it be an excuse if the man was 6'4" and the detective was a female? How about if her partner was no where near the scene and the suspect was saying he was going to kill her? Would that change anything? Do you know facts that we don't? How about let the guy go and he rapes your underage daughter because he needs some good thoughts to think about before he goes to prison? If someone knows something we don't, please tell.
when a cop tells you to do something you do it. What part of that is difficult. Cops have a nasty job, they take guff from everyone including their wives, just do what you're told , if a cop tells you to do something illegal or if he oversteps his authority you might have a lawsuit. Just do what you're told. Quit talking to the cops like you did to your father and mother and teachers.
Methinks Unk is probably a criminal himself, I think our Metro cops are very professional for the most part. I am glad we got them.
Metro is awful. I cant believe that they shot this man. They should have carefully apprehended him, brought him to the home of the girl he raped and let her family do as they pleased to him. Yeah he wasnt proven guilty in a court of law but he tried to escape so he basically admitted to being guilty just by his actions.
ctwomp-
Metro is awful huh..I hope you never need saving then. Some day some crook will try to steal your wallet or jack your car, and I hope you can handle it yourself, because you don't deserve the help of a department so "awful". You can't believe a criminal who was fighting a law enforcement officer and could have taken his gun and shot him instead was shot? It's called his a** or mine, which would you choose. So unless you are there to witness the struggle don't pass judgment. This guy was a child rapist..maybe they can drop them off at your house and you can protect them all from our awful police department. He wasn't proven guilty, yet, because he chose to be an idiot, but he did us all a favor..now we (taxpayers)won't have to foot the bill to feed and clothe him every day he sits in jail.
Phargo -- you must like bullies armed with deadly weapons, because that's exactly what you suggested here.
I'm curious how this investigation will conclude, like where this SUSPECT (remember "innocent until proven guilty?" It's more than just a quaint adage) was shot. If it was in the back I plan to rub your nose in it here.
natural human instinct when scared--fight or flight
that is no reason to kill an unarmed person
only metro and idiots would justify
If the police weren't allowed to pursue criminals that run, nobody would go to jail. This is a fine example for anyone foolish enough to think they can run from the police to escape jail.
I think it was very kind that they tried to taser him first. I personally am glad that a pedophile/wife beater is off the street. I can live with the fact that he was never properly tried- that's his own fault.
lv1- I think you misunderstood ctwomp's comment.
Three men beaten by Philadelphia police on the hunt for a police killer were acquitted Wednesday of all charges stemming from their arrests.
Jurors who watched a 10-minute news videotape (seen above) of the violent arrest said it did not influence their verdict on the attempted murder and other charges related to a triple shooting earlier that night.
They also found plausible defense lawyers' arguments that three young black men being pursued by police in May 2008 might have been afraid to stop, knowing they could be mistaken for the fugitive police killer.
This may be a totally wrong observation, but in my experience it's always the criminals who don't like cops.
I don't break the law so I don't have to worry about being shot. Even if a police officer showed up right now and drew his gun and told me to get on the ground - for no reason mind you - I would still do it. Then, once the officer felt safe enough that I could speak I would explain the situation. I wouldn't RUN! WHO RUNS!?!?! People who have something to run from.
Cops have the crappiest job. They are ALWAYS under the microscope. They have to deal with the emotional weight of their decisions on a daily basis - no police officer, good or bad, wants to kill someone. They don't wake up and say "hey this is a great day for some human target practice". Not to mention they get no praise for keeping our streets safe.
I don't want a cop on the streets who would not pursue an alleged criminal getting away. I don't want cops on the street who are afraid to do their job.
Sure there's a rotten apple or two in every bunch who abuses their power, but that should not create the assumption that ALL Metro is corrupt, evil, and does not have the city's best interests at heart.
If you're not guilty, if you are a law abiding citizen, YOU DON'T RUN!
Two cops, two guns, one suspect and no mention of him being armed. If he WAS armed, don't you think they would put that in the story? I agree that you should not run away from or fight with a police officer when they are conducting an investigation, but there is nothing more excessive than killing an unarmed man. Unless of course, that un-armed man is Chuck Norris.
To the erudite KILLERB, that man was obviously guilty as sin. why else did he resist. the lesson here is obey the cops and you won't come to harm. I doubt he was shot in the back so don't worry about my nose. You and unk can commiserate over another of your fellow felonsm that bit the dust. Me I feel safer now.
I think it would be extremely foolish for the police to ever assume a suspect isn't armed. It is the job of the police to regulate these fools so they may not be allowed to pose a bigger threat to society.
There are a lot of things more excessive than shooting a man that is committing assault, armed or not!
Killing an "UNARMED", "SUSPECTED" person. No excuse for these so called detectives. This was simply an execution.
Metro killed an unarmed man. They have now done what they normally do, call this shooting of an unarmed man justified, and told the media to play-up the Child Molester angle. They do this so simpletons like Phargo and others can condone unprofessional Police work.
There was no need for deadly force based on the facts presented. You can be assured if there were facts truly supporting DF, Metro would be sharing them. Problem is, there is no justification so we get the typical lying from Metro.
Unlike the James Manor sham job, the public will rollover on this one and nothing will be done to hold these Detectives responsible.
Running from the Police is not a Capital Offense.
The entire situation could have been avoided if Metro would have simply arrested the guy at the outset. Taken him downtown and interviewed him.
Instead they send two fat detectives there without back-up in 100 heat to basically hassle a confession, create a confrontation. Well mission accomplished.
"Running from the Police is not a Capital Offense."
Agreed, that's probably why they tried to taze the guy. then they caught up to him and he resisted again, even started fighting. guess what, if someone is fighting back, and they even remotely reach for my gun, they are done. why? because i don't have time to decipher if they really want to kill me once im laying dead on the ground by my own weapon. Dude doesn't go down from a tazer, fights the cop...what do you expect to happen?
What evidence is there he was HIT by the taser? Reports are they just shot at him with a taser, missing it sounds like to me.
What evidence is there the man was not shot 12 feet away from the officer? There is no evidence of a fight other than one cop saying there was a fight. Why would a fleeing suspect stop and fight an officer? it defies common sense.
Again, the issue here is why Metro went to arrest a suspect with this huge rap sheet of charges and instead of blocking escape routes and having proper back-up, 2 detectives show-up alone for more what? stories? That lack of professionalism caused the incident which was then compounded when this idiot cop decided to use the ultimate tool to correct the first mistake.
Now we have the typical Metro manure spreading and cover-up.
You hear that Metro?
Unk would prefer it if you guys just arrest everyone you speak to or question. Even before you're able to determine whether or not this person might be going to jail or not. Just don't speak to anyone not in handcuffs and this won't happen again, says Unk.
Let's avoid shooting pedophiles and criminals that assault you by arresting everyone you come into contact with.
Unk,
you're right, the cop probably actually shot the guy right away, and dragged him down the street to make it look like he was running from him. why are you rushing to defend someone that was breaking laws before YOU have evidence either way. from what i read, the cop was in the right. until you read otherwise, stop with the conspiracy theory
Killer is upset because one of his jail buddies got killed. I applaud Metro's quick thinking in this case. They were questioning a man in regards to a domestic violence battery and sexual assault with a child under the age of 14. If the man was innocent he would have stayed and talked to the police, the fact is he ran like a criminal and that just proves his guilt.
What disgusting crimes to commit in the first place, wife beating and child-rape? How low can you possible go in one shot?
This guy is a maggot and should have just gone to jail and then he could have proven his innocence. More than likely we have one less sexual predator off the streets of Las Vegas and for that I say.."Good Job, Metro" Keep up the good work..We back the badge.
Keep the streets safe for women and children.
FYI: The woman he beat and the kid he sexually assaulted were "UNARMED!" and the kid was "UNDER 14 YEARS Old..that is totally sick.. and demented.
Hmmm...helmet cams huh LasVegas2009...and so that scum such as this man don't continue to prey upon women and children, let's outfit ourselves and our daughters with pepperspray jewelry and stun gun undergarments so that when these monsters strike, they will be instantly incapacitated and not be free to roam the streets until some alert police officer stops them, DEAD, in their tracks!
I suppose, wakeup, it is also "natural human instinct" to attack women and sexually assault children? Please, let me get you a bandaid...your heart is bleeding all over the floor!
Here's the deal for all the people on here who do not really understand why this shooting happened.
This case basically boils down to 2 detectives who were avoiding arrest and Miranda Protections fishing for evidence which resulted in a pursuit-an alleged fight-and the use of deadly force resulting in death.
If they had the goods, they should have arrested the person of interest protecting themselves, the suspect, and the public (the main job of the Police is protection). We will never know what case they had against this person, but from all accounts they had plenty to simply arrest the person and do further investigating using safer means. They chose not to (avoiding Miranda Protections of the suspect) and thus created a high risk situation which resulted in a death.
They said nay to arrest because they wanted what amounted to an unsolicited confession, they lost.
Some will say the Police have to routinely work around the Constitution or all hell would break loose. I say BS to that no matter how despicable this fellow who was killed was. We are supposed to be a nation of laws, not a place where cops play games to skirt laws.
"Keep the streets safe for women and children."
That's right, starrynite -- you and plenty of others like you, mostly female, open your mouths, accuse (whether true or not), and the cops and courts just jump for you. No trial, no due process, just execution for your brand of justice -- satisfied now because an accused man was shot to death.
You've made up everything you can think of about me without a shred of truth behind any of it but what little is echoing in your empty head. Just as 99% of always, you are completely irrelevant to this or any other rational Discussion.
Police have more responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for this man, and you curse the police. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what police go through. This man's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And that these police actions, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. Police use words like honor, code, loyalty. They use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. Police don't have the time nor the inclination to explain legal procedures to a person who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very safety they provide, then question the manner in which they provide it. I prefer you police haters just say thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you test for a police academy, pick up a weapon, and stand against the criminal element. Either way, I don't give a damn what you police haters think you know about police use of force actions.
Comment removed by staff.
The RJ has a story this morning from two eyewitnesses who say the officer shot the man in the back from 8 feet away as he was running away. They were told to shut-up and go away.
The taxpayers pay out on these cases. (pervert or not)
Auto de fe?
"You weep for this man, and you curse the police. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what police go through. This man's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And that these police actions, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives."
YouRight -- you were there? On what exactly do you base this shooting of an unarmed citizen as saving any lives? And where do you get "weep" and "curse"? This is a Discussion questioning the actions of those working solely in the public interest and they are accountable accordingly.
This was another death by an executioner hiding behind a badge. That badge represents all of us. And if Unk is right about this morning's RJ story, it's Metro who are clearly the criminals here. Its officers and that entire department have already shown they're willing to lie and intimidate to cover their own butts, proven by their encounter recently with Mr. Darling.
Phargo -- you have to be very stupid to imply Unk is on a Metro vigilante squad hit list for a similar shooting. How anonymous do you think you really are here?
This story needs a batch of new comentators.
I stand corrected...these are not police haters, these are anarchists with a dictionary. Allow me to illuminate a law that excapes your pablum puking ability to comprehend how police save lives. Nevada Revised Statute;
NRS 171.1455 Use of deadly force to effect arrest: If necessary to prevent escape, an officer may, after giving a warning, if feasible, use deadly force to effect the arrest of a person only if there is probable cause to believe that the person:
1. Has committed a felony which involves the infliction or threat of serious bodily harm or the use of deadly force; or
2. Poses a threat of serious bodily harm to the officer or to others.
Yes, this law has been tested by the likes of you who were not there. Who were not there watching your "citizen" abuse a child. No, to you these "citizens" are not dangerous. The real danger are people like you who would do nothing to protect an innocent child. What if it was your child? Go on ridicule the police, it tells everyone how you feel. But, when you stand and protect the evil that would do incomprehensible things your child, it tells everyone who you really are. This suspected felon made a choice to flee and ultimately dictated the actions and the level of force the police had to use to stop him. This innocent child didn't have a choice!! And there you are weeping as you tell your child that evil lost. You are the other danger.
YouRight -- again you show you have no problem making it up as you go. You have presented no new facts, only speculation. Your "what if" has no credibility except serving you as a blunt object.
Again, an unarmed man was shot down by cops. Your NRS cite -- and that deserves some respect for digging it up -- does not overcome the organic law's prohibition against being deprived of "life, liberty or property" without due process of law. This cop, especially if Unk's post about the RJ is true, took it on himself to be judge, jury and executioner.
As for your "anarchist with a dictionary" quip, how glib. Too bad for you and your ilk I am so much more.
Here's the link tot he RJ story refuting Metro. http://www.lvrj.com/news/49838062.html
Like I said before, the problem started when these 2 detectives decided to avoid the person's Fifth Amendment rights and fish for evidence. The person said no, they tried to arrest him, he fled, they shot him in the back from 8 paces. Metro Brass, doing what they normally do have fabricated a story and playing up the child molester angle (unproven BTW).
Heads need to roll at Metro. Too many of these clowns are creating far too great a risk to the public and the taxpayers.
Let the COP bashing begin..... what about the other 1,000 traffic stops and other policae activity that went on without a hitch?
Oh the speed traps and other assorted revenue producing activities Metro engages in? the massive selective enforcement ..i.e. harassment they are party to?
Look most do not even understand how the Police manipulate enforcement making their stats look bad so taxpayers are forced to fund new officers and stations. Hell a crime-wave has hit Las Vegas...well duh when you actually go out and arrest a few criminals of course the numbers look bad. They do whatever amount of enforcement they need to do to keep the pig trough open.
This shooting being discussed here is the tip of the iceberg to what is wrong with the Police believe me.
The witnesses in the RJ spoke on the condition of anonymity. Why? If I had information about an illegal shooting I would be screaming from the rooftops to get someone to listen to come talk to me about it. I think the answer is simple. Give everyone involved, officers & witnesses alike, polygraph tests to see what they reveal. If the police are lying, they deserve to face the consequences of murder, if the "witnesses" are lying they deserve to face charges of slander, conspiracy and whatever other charges can be added for false accusations.
"...what about the other 1,000 traffic stops and other policae [sic] activity that went on without a hitch?"
MAGSNY199 -- are you really that desperate to make a point, comparing traffic stops to an execution?
Detective Hendricks should be arrested and prosecuted for what he did - murder.
Metro -- and that would be the citizens here -- hired bullies in desperate need of a lesson in what those badges they're allowed to bear really stand for.
I didn't witness this entire event. How many of you that have posted actually did? Or are the negative comments being posted merely from what you're read in the Sun or RJ, or viewed on television.
KillerB - how do you know for a fact the suspect was unarmed? If it were to come out later that he was in fact armed, will you be "man" enough to state you were wrong?
unk - you seem to know the most or the least about this event. You said this all started when the Detective's started "fishing for evidence". How do you know this for a fact, or are you just spewing about something you really don't know anything about. And like I asked KillerB, will you be "man" enough to admit you were wrong if the "facts" are you state them are proven wrong?
The bottom line is plain to see, we don't know all of the facts, we only know what is being fed to us. Clearly there will be more concrete facts come out in the coming days or at the inquest. Once all of the facts are known is the time to conclude whether the Detective was justified or not. I therefore, withhold my opinion until then.
Voice -- every suspect is frisked for weapons, it's S.O.P. Even at a traffic stop when it's escalated to searches/fishing expeditions.
As for "man" we all have our own opinions what that means. And you're taking this a bit beyond the Discussion norm, VOR. Asking for what comments are based on is one thing, since I usually do it. But a personal insult on top of it does not incline one to cooperate.
As for the facts, we shall wait and see past Metro's usual upfront lies. Another funny thing -- a lie to a police officer is a crime, but when the cop lies it usually gets lost in the proceedings. Already the first version in this article is unraveling, thanx to Unk's link.
I and others serious about being citizens will always question of authority. Why VOR and others have a problem with that is just proof you're comfortable being in the herd -- you know, the ones blindly following the leaders.
The Police themselves have admitting they were fishing for evidence (they were questioning). If they had the goods, what need was there for more questioning outside of a controlled custody? The gambled and lost. They should have arrested on the spot, not after some additional fishing. The fish threw the hook and ran.
Not one person on this forum, if in their shoes, would not have had back-up on scene if your plan was to arrest what Metro now claims was a violent suspect they were justified in killing. You also would not be playing patty-cake with more questioning. You would be arresting the perp as fast and as safely as possible.
What if this suspect was armed? ran inside the Hospital and took the place hostage? That is the risk taken by not arresting immediately, BEFORE he knows you are the Police.
Like the James Manor case, this one is another showing just how unprofessional and out of control Metro is.
AN EXECUTION? LOL IF THEY TASED HIM OR TACKLED HIM AND HE DIED YOU WOULD BE COMPLAING ALOS...LIKE I SAID LET THE COP BASHING FROM THE COP HATERS BEGIN...90% OF YOU WHO HATE COPS ARE PROBALLY BREAKING THE LAW REGULARY...EVEN IF YOU ARE JUST ROLLIN THRU A STOP SIGN
MAGSNY1999 -- I make a point to ignore those who lock their caps and have nothing relevant to say.
fight or flight--a natural human instinct... sorry I took a psychology class or two. I thought this was common knowledge, then I remember I'm in uneducated las vegas, sorry didn't mean to add knowledge to a discussion
Pedophile down! It's a very good thing.