MobileRJ | RSS TwitterTwitter FacebookFacebook E-mail Alerts
Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed

sponsored by
News
Mar. 13, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Federal agent says Henderson police roughed him up

Lawsuit accuses three officers in 2007 incident

By ADRIENNE PACKER
REVIEW-JOURNAL

A federal agent filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Henderson Police Department and three officers, alleging they roughed him up last year after a game of pool in a downtown tavern became heated.

According to court documents filed by attorney Cal Potter, Brad Hare was playing pool at the Gold Mine Tavern on Aug. 13, 2007, when he and his opponent became engaged in a "spirited debate."

Most Popular Stories
  • 'YOU DON'T BLOW A BUNCH OF CASH IN VEGAS ...': Obama remark reopens wound
  • NORM: Ad's Strip scenes raised eyebrows
  • LAUGHLIN EDGEWATER: Two dead in casino car crash
  • Shutting down the Ritz
  • Shutting down the Ritz
  • Former commander of USS Cole considers run against Reid
  • NORM: $1 million wager on Super Bowl approved
  • Tourist describes chaos as car plows into Laughlin casino, killing two
  • Tourist describes chaos as car plows into Laughlin casino, killing two
  • IMAGES FROM 1860S: Photos show historic Nevada
  • Fighter battles rare disease that shatters mixed martial arts dream
  • Flood advisory for Las Vegas Valley




    • His opponent told Hare that he had connections to Henderson police and could have him arrested.

    At 1:30 a.m., three on-duty officers entered the bar and, without asking Hare or the bartender about the dispute, "violently lifted Mr. Hare off (the) ground and slammed Mr. Hare on the center of the pool table," according to the lawsuit.

    The officers are accused of dragging Hare out of the bar in a "pain-compliance arm-bar hold," throwing him on the hood of a sport utility vehicle, searching him and asking for his identification. One officer accused Hare of attempting to spit on him. Hare informed them he worked for a federal law enforcement agency.

    "Hare then told the Henderson police officers that what they were doing was very wrong," the lawsuit says.

    At that point, the officers left Hare injured in the alley behind Water Street, Potter said. Hare suffered bruises on his ribs, face and arms when he was tossed against the vehicle, Potter said.

    Keith Paul, spokesman for the Henderson Police Department, said the department had not been served with a lawsuit and therefore could not comment. City Attorney Shauna Hughes was out of the office Wednesday.

    As a result of the incident, Hare was unable to work and suffered mental anguish, the lawsuit says. He is seeking a judgment to exceed $1 million.

    Potter said Hare did not immediately show the officers his law enforcement badge because that goes against agency policy. Potter refused to disclose the agency, saying his client's position is covert.

    "You aren't supposed to tell people they're an agent," Potter said. "There are a couple of people who use the influence of their badge to get through things."

    Potter said neither he nor Hare knows the names of the officers involved and the Police Department has not been cooperative. Potter filed an internal affairs complaint shortly after the incident, but has received no report back from Henderson.

    "Our client brought his case to internal affairs at Henderson P.D. and was blown off," said Gary Peck, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, which is also representing Hare. "That's a problem. You need to be serious about investigating allegations of misconduct, so you know when police officers misbehave, they are held accountable."

    The lawsuit claims that Henderson Police supervisors are failing to properly train its officers in use of force tactics and procedures.

    "This case may well be a part of a broader pattern and practice that is of real concern to us," Peck said.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 58 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    Renee wrote on January 16, 2009 04:54 PM: This case is a year old, however in reading this I am so disappointed in how our law enforcement is in todays society. It certainly takes nerve for Henderson police officers to do this to a federal agent. I truly hope this agent wins or has won his case. I thought this only happened to the people that have nothing to do with law enforcement, but evidently not. Unfortunately, we do have a corrupt system every where you go, so it seems.


    Geoffrey John Wells wrote on May 10, 2008 05:52 PM: I was tortured in the 8th Judicial District Family Courthouse December 14, 2006 by 4 bailiffs. They broke my ribs, falsely testified and no one seems to give a crap. This is just another cover up by District Attorney David Roger and his Gay Gestapo.


    emma wrote on April 29, 2008 03:56 AM: i want to be a federal secret agent


    Danny wrote on April 18, 2008 08:48 AM: None of you bunch of whiners were there, unless you're looking deep into your crystal balls for information. Anybody can make an allegation, proving it is another story. By the way, many Metro officers have applied with Henderson and couldn't make it. Works both ways, geniuses.


    WALT wrote on April 16, 2008 09:30 AM: I WAS ALWAYS PRO COP IN THESE SITUATIONS.NO LONGER.WHENEVER THERE IS EVIDENCE,IT SHOWS LAWLESS POLICE BEHAVIOUR.IF THESE OFFICERS DID EVEN ONE THIRD OF WHAT IS CLAIMED,THEY SHOULD BE DOING TIME.IF THIS GUY WAS NOT AN AGENT THIS WOULD JUST BE BUSINESS AS USUAL.


    justin wrote on April 15, 2008 06:16 AM: Henderson seriously needs to get a grip on their law enforcement people... remember the 80 year old man they pepper sprayed and beat up a few years ago for double parking??? Not to mention they have three cars show up to roust a homeless person for doing nothing more than sitting on the grass.
    They are seriously at risk of turning into a nazi police state!!


    Eric wrote on April 12, 2008 12:49 AM: Should we be surprised? They have been doing this stuff for years and getting away with it.


    Robert London wrote on April 09, 2008 08:59 AM: This is a departure from the Henderson police department's usual practice. That would be murdering older women in front of their children. What a conplete disgrace.


    D wrote on April 09, 2008 04:43 AM: The Henderson PD are Vegas Metro PD rejects. Therefore, I agree they should not have a badge.


    Switalla wrote on April 05, 2008 09:32 AM: David is right: do not patronize Henderson businesses, at all, if you can help it.

    After all, the life you save may be your own.


    Read All Comments