LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A Henderson police officer shot an unarmed 15-year-old boy in 2019. Whereas the police held a information convention shortly after the incident, the division refused to supply extra info after the 8 Information Now Investigators requested it in February.
“Pursuant to NRS Chapter 62H, juvenile justice information is confidential and cannot be released pursuant to a public records request,” Sgt. Daniel Medrano wrote in an electronic mail. “Based on the aforementioned reason, your request is denied.”
The 8 Information Now Investigators continued to hunt info and obtained extra physique digicam footage and audio of interviews from the investigation into the Aug. 6, 2019, taking pictures.
Henderson identifies officer who shot teen theft suspect
Officer Scott Alward stated he was on patrol when he was waved down at a 7-11 on Boulder Freeway close to Sundown Street for a reported theft. The video confirmed an injured worker bleeding within the parking zone. The worker was heard on audio telling police the teenager had bodily assaulted him.
“He started swinging,” he stated. “Constantly hitting me on the nose. That’s why I bled.”
When Alward activated his lights and sirens, the video appeared to indicate the 15-year-old suspect operating away. Alward initially chased him whereas driving his police automobile, after which on foot.
Henderson PD Oct. 15 officer-involved taking pictures investigation continues, suspect not armed at time of taking pictures
“You better stop!” Alward yelled through the foot chase. “You’re gonna get shot!”
The view from Alward’s physique digicam seemed to be restricted as this occurred within the night time hours in a residential neighborhood.
After Alward ordered and warned the teenager to cease, he opened fireplace. Twelve gunshots are heard on the video. The teenager suspect didn’t comply.
Henderson police shoot suspect who hit sergeant with automobile
Alward known as for backup and informed a sergeant he believed the suspect was armed, based on the police footage.
Officers situated and arrested the teenager, who was handled and launched from the hospital after which questioned by a detective, based on police information. The teenager is heard on a police audio clip insisting he didn’t keep in mind what occurred however admitted he probably shoplifted from the 7-11 and had used alcohol, marijuana, and Xanax earlier that day.
The detective is heard on police audio studying the teenager his Miranda rights and explaining he had the suitable to have a father or mother or guardian current. The teenager, who had a troubled background and household historical past, didn’t request a consultant to be current.
The detective is heard within the police audio recording interrogating the teenager about whether or not he had a weapon.
“Is it possible you may have forgotten about carrying a gun tonight?” the detective requested. “Because the information that I received is that you had a gun.”
The teenager repeatedly denied having a weapon, based on the audio recording.
“I put that on my life,” the teenager stated. “I am not the type of person to carry a gun around.”
After greater than half-hour of questioning, based on police information, the teenager referred to his private speaker hanging from his pants.
“If I was running, I would have held it like this, which made him think I had something,” he stated.
“The suspect had an object in his hands, which led to the use of deadly force,” Lt. Kirk Moore stated in a press convention shortly after the taking pictures. “That object was later discovered to not be a deadly weapon.”
A detective additionally questioned Alward, who stated he believed the teenager posed a menace.
“He just committed a violent crime,” Alward informed the detective in a clip obtained by the 8 Information Now Investigators. “I believe when he was running, he had an object in his hand that I believed to be a gun, which are commonly associated with robberies.”
Alward has been concerned in a number of high-profile use-of-force incidents. The latest, final January, was when a suspect tried to run Alward over, and he fired his weapon in return.
Alward shot an unarmed kidnapping suspect in 2020, based on a number of experiences.
The 8 Information Now Investigators requested Alward’s use-of-force document. The division claimed twice the document didn’t exist.
“We have no responsive records to your request,” Sgt. Daniel Medrano wrote in a March 6 electronic mail. “The City does not maintain a record that lists Use of Force incidents or disciplinary action by employee.”
Eight weeks after the 8 Information Now Investigators’ preliminary request, the division admitted the document does exist.
“After further review and an internal recheck of our systems, we have identified that a record can, in fact, be produced from our database,” Officer L. Vukanovich wrote in an electronic mail. “This information came to light during a subsequent effort to double-check and ensure the accuracy and completeness of our response to your request.”
The division despatched a listing, at present being reviewed by the 8 Information Now Investigators, which appeared to incorporate three use-of-force incidents with a firearm inside a 10-year interval.
The 8 Information Now Investigators reached out to the union representing Alward.
In an announcement, the union stated Alward is “an exemplary officer with an exemplary record and nothing in his past record was problematic.”
In his 2019 interview, because the taking pictures was investigated, Alward stated he educated on the police academy.
The teenager, now an grownup, is within the grownup felony justice system as he has dedicated extra crimes.
The shop worker he assaulted again in 2019 had hope for him.
“I did hear from one of the officers that, unfortunately, there was a shootout,” he’s heard saying in a police audio clip. “Regardless of what happened to me, I hope he’s okay.”
Alward was promoted to sergeant and has labored for the division since 2014, based on the Metropolis of Henderson.
To succeed in investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, electronic mail [email protected]
