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Jul. 30, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Suspect in attack on police officer is found dead in jail cell

Suicide suspected in death of 40-year-old

By ANTONIO PLANAS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Donald Mason
Man was accused of stalking police officer who had previously arrested him

A 40-year-old inmate accused of attempting to kill a police officer was found dead in his jail cell in what is believed to have been a suicide, Las Vegas police said Tuesday.

Donald Mason was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on July 16 on recommended charges of attempted murder of a police officer, battery of a police officer and resisting arrest. Police said Mason was found unconscious in his fifth-floor jail cell Monday afternoon.

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    • Because of the serious nature of the allegations against him, Mason was isolated in the cell, police said. Police did not disclose the details of how Mason died.

    Mason was accused of stalking a detective who had previously arrested him and ramming the detective's unmarked car into oncoming traffic with a 1994 Toyota sport utility vehicle on July 16, near the Las Vegas Beltway and Jones Boulevard.

    After ramming the detective's car, Mason's vehicle flipped over at least once before landing on its wheels, police said. The detective got out of his vehicle to check on Mason, who then attacked the eight-year veteran with a screw driver, police said.

    The detective apprehended Mason with the help of a passing motorist. The detective, who was not named, was taken to University Medical Center and was released later that day.

    Deputy Chief Leroy Kirkegard said Mason, like all inmates at the detention center, was given a mental health evaluation. The evaluation didn't indicate signs of mental instability. Kirkegard said if Mason's death is ruled a suicide by the Clark County coroner's office, his death will be the fourth suicide in five years at the facility.

    The coroner's office had not determined Mason's cause and manner of death Tuesday afternoon. Police said Mason had a long criminal record that included arrests for gross lewdness, domestic violence, driving under the influence and narcotic violations.

    Homicide Lt. Lew Roberts said his department will investigate Mason's death. Roberts wouldn't give a timeline for when that will be completed. He said many people would be interviewed, including medical personnel, jail officials and inmates.

    "We want to do a thorough and complete job," Roberts said.

    Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.



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    friend wrote on October 17, 2008 07:33 PM: Scott was not arrested for the extra things listed above. He did not have a long criminal history.
    The reporter is just as crooked as the cop.
    Scott would not have done that.
    Shame on the county jail.


    buRNed wrote on August 04, 2008 09:36 AM: As I ALWAYS say, Vegas is Sin City not because of alcohol, drugs or gambling but because of the filthy politics that define this sty. Of course he was isolated and of course it's suicide. The coroner would probably find gun shots to the head and stabs in the back consistant with suicide. This IS a police state with crooked activity on ALL levels of the legal system. As long as there in NO accountability, there is NO justice.


    someone who knew him well wrote on August 02, 2008 02:07 PM: first of all at least 75% of all these comments violate your policy. Mr Donald Scott Masons actions were caused by close to five years of that cops gross abuse of his public powers. The FBI had better look into this matter, Scott did what he thought was the only choice he had once before to get the FBI involved because he feared for his life when he had to spend some time in police custody.Im not condoning his actions toward that crooked cop but when the system that governs the law dosent work what choices do we ultimately have


    mongol wrote on August 02, 2008 10:42 AM: he did the right thing...he is pure maggot


    Tyrone wrote on August 02, 2008 10:41 AM: another vegas dirtball...forget him...let him rot ... what pure slime


    Oooooohhhh poor innocent baby! wrote on July 31, 2008 01:20 PM: Burn in Hell, m***f****er.


    ShowTheTapes wrote on July 31, 2008 05:37 AM: Nearly every inch of CCDC is covered by closed circuit cameras recording 24/7.

    Simply review the video from when he was placed in his cell, until it was discovered that he transpired.

    Shouldn't be very hard to determine whether he had help punching his own ticket or not,,,,,

    Maybe the casinos will take bets?

    I Know where I'd place my money,,,,

    I'm betting there was a malfunction of the camera(s) that covered the area around his cell.

    Hey, it happens,,,,,,,


    Bill wrote on July 30, 2008 10:47 PM: Good. I didn't want to waste my tax dollars to incarcerate this human piece of garbage. I'm glad the cop doesn't have to worry about that slime stalking him or his family ever again. Chalk one up to Karma!!!!!


    handjob wrote on July 30, 2008 10:21 PM: mission031
    What did he hang his shirt, or whatever, from? A pipe or a window frame? I don't know what a cell is like here, you seem like you might be a cop type that would know.


    Recent Related Story Ignored by R-J wrote on July 30, 2008 09:58 PM: "All Things Considered, July 3, 2008 · State and federal agents are investigating the death of a Maryland man in his cell two days after he was arrested and charged with killing a county police officer. But their efforts have been slowed by a lack of cooperation from prison officials."

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92204509


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