LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Metro police investigated the Henderson councilwoman accused of illegally recording a non-public dialog for allegedly working an unlicensed daycare, intervening in a police investigation, and granting unauthorized entry to a safe city-run facility, in accordance with paperwork 8 Information Now obtained.
A Clark County grand jury voted to indict Henderson Councilwoman Carrie Cox on one cost of monitoring or making an attempt to observe a non-public dialog. The indictment, introduced final Wednesday, adopted a 10-month police investigation.
Cox informed police she denied illegally recording a non-public dialog amongst fellow Henderson Councilwoman Monica Larson and two males on Jan. 9, even after she was proven an alleged recording of the act whereas sitting behind a Las Vegas police automobile, paperwork stated.
A lawyer for Cox didn’t specify if their workforce had obtained the report, however wrote in a press release to eight Information Now that Cox appeared ahead to addressing the allegations in courtroom.
A Clark County grand jury voted to indict Henderson Councilwoman Carrie Cox on one cost of monitoring or making an attempt to observe a non-public dialog. The indictment, introduced final Wednesday, adopted a 10-month police investigation. (KLAS)
Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero wrote in a press release that she learn the 10-month investigation within the report and was “outraged” and “disgusted” by Cox’s habits. She added that members of town can be assembly to debate subsequent steps.
Behind the black curtain
On Jan. 29, Metro detectives interviewed Larson in regards to the alleged unlawful recording of a non-public dialog by Cox at a metropolis retirement get together.
“Dr. Larson stated she was approached by Henderson Councilwoman Carrie Cox, who had emerged from a black curtain near their persons,” Metro detectives wrote within the officer’s report. “Larson stated Cox began conversing in a hostile manner stating she had recorded their conversation. She stated, ‘I’m recording you. I heard your whole conversation. I’m recording,’ Cox then yelled, “You’re a liar.’”
Metro investigators then reviewed non-audible video surveillance from three digicam angles of the identical incident at Henderson Metropolis Corridor and watched as Cox appeared to make a cellphone name, holding the cellphone to her ear earlier than strolling previous the curtain and interesting with Larson, paperwork stated.
After acquiring a search warrant for Cox’s cellphone information, investigators retrieved a video recording of Cox concealing herself behind a black curtain whereas recording Larson’s personal dialog.
On June 3, Metro detectives obtained one other search warrant and interviewed Cox within the Henderson Metropolis Corridor parking storage. Detectives informed her she was not beneath arrest and free to go away, paperwork stated.
“Cox denied recording the conversation of Dr. Larson and [redacted],” Metro detectives wrote within the officer’s report. “When confronted with the recording recovered from her iCloud, Cox responded, ‘Can people hack, yes? As actually [sic] I’m, my, my, son-in-law told me they can do that. People, can do… he could do that.”
Cox continued to disclaim she recorded the personal dialog and said she didn’t know the way investigators recovered the recording, paperwork stated.
The cost going through Cox is a class D felony, which might carry jail time of 1-4 years and a positive.
Metro detectives then seized Cox’s cellphone with out incident and investigated quite a lot of actions.
Childcare facility investigation
On Feb. 24, Metro police interviewed a mum or dad who was a consumer of Cox’s childcare enterprise, Care Bears Studying and Childcare, and located all companies have been performed at Cox’s house, paperwork stated.
Texts obtained by Metro detectives confirmed Cox allegedly wrote the childcare included an training program, pre-school immersion, pre-school, and kindergarten.
Additional investigative efforts discovered Cox and her husband didn’t get hold of any licensing as required by state legislation for any of the years offered on her marketing campaign contributions or expense stories, nor obtained a state childcare license, paperwork stated.
“Investigators find it probable clients of Cox are unaware of the illegitimacy of her operation,” Metro detectives wrote within the officer’s report.
The Workplace of Inspector Common knowledgeable Metro detectives that they’d no file of a official daycare enterprise in relation to Cox or the enterprise in query.
For 2 months, Metro investigators performed surveillance operations at Cox’s residence and noticed kids being dropped off and picked up who didn’t share a household relationship with Cox.
After a monetary investigation, it was estimated that Cox and her husband allegedly amassed $200,000 inside one 12 months of the enterprise’s operation, paperwork stated.
Board of Nursing and the FBI Academy
Following the retrieval of Cox’s cellphone and search warrants, Metro detectives outlined a collection of alleged violations of misconduct of public workplace.
In August 2024, Cox allegedly wrote a personality letter on behalf of a person going through self-discipline with the Nevada Board of Nursing, introducing herself as a Henderson councilwoman.
“Additionally, communications were located in which Cox asks [redacted] if she would like her to use her City of Henderson letterhead,” Metro detectives wrote within the officer’s report. “It is relevant to note, the letterhead is the property of the City of Henderson and cannot be used for private commitments.”
Texts obtained by LVMPD from February 2023 revealed new particulars that led police to imagine Cox used her place and the affect of others to thwart the profession development of a person to the FBI academy for the achieve of one other.
Metro investigators alleged Cox intervened within the particular person’s profession development to take care of her relationship with one other one who not solely equipped her with data but additionally helped her achieve help from fellow officers, in accordance with paperwork obtained by 8 Information Now.
“All of which assisted Cox in her political aspirations in violation of misconduct of [a] public officer,” Metro detectives wrote within the officer’s report.
Media ties
On a number of events, Metro investigators discovered texts wherein Cox allegedly disregarded lawful, procedural, and moral requirements whereas sharing police particulars with reporters.
On Jan. 8, Cox exchanged texts with a member of the media about the police investigation into the loss of life of a 17-year-old woman who had taken her personal life together with her stepfather’s firearm, who labored in legislation enforcement, in accordance with paperwork obtained by 8 Information Now.
“[Cox] insinuated [the girl’s] parents did not report she left the residence with a firearm,” Metro detectives wrote within the officer’s report.
Cox then allegedly shared data from the police “swing shift report” with a member of the media as questions grew in regards to the lack of disclosure of a weapon.
On Mar. 31, Cox allegedly shared a screenshot of a Henderson Police doc containing Nationwide Incident-Primarily based Reporting System information and requested the member of the media to not use the precise slide.
“This communication reveals not only Cox’s awareness of her actions but her intent, and clear disregard to any lawful, procedural, or ethical standard,” Metro detectives wrote within the officer’s report.
On Could 29, Metro investigators cited texts between a member of the media and Cox relating to an 8 Information Now story on Henderson’s then-newly introduced police chief.
“Based on Cox’s habitual media dissemination and deliberate undermining of city progression,” Metro detectives wrote in an officer’s report. “Investigators find it probable this information was fed to [redacted] in the hopes of tarnishing [redacted’s] reputation, and to sew discord and distrust within the HPD and community.”
Metro investigators wrote that Cox allegedly usually shared data for her profit or the shared good thing about others with out regard to police or the residents it impacts, including it’s widespread for people to take care of media relationships.
“An analysis of [redacted] and the [redacted] coverage of Cox revealed they have not published unfavorable articles about her,” Metro detectives wrote within the officer’s report. “On the contrary, numerous articles were located that instead gave her a platform to push her political agendas.”
As in comparison with earlier sections of the report, police didn’t cite any breaking of state legislation within the media communications.
Who’s shopping for the turkey?
In November 2024, Cox was allegedly reached out to by a person asking if the councilwoman can be keen to donate cash from her marketing campaign to pay for aspect dishes for households in want, in accordance with paperwork obtained by 8 Information Now.
“I’m about $1,700 short and I’m wondering if that is something that you can donate through your campaign,” the person wrote to Cox, in accordance with the paperwork.
Cox allegedly then texted the person that she would e-mail one other individual to get a “check.” The councilwoman then allegedly solicited a donation from an unnamed group.
“Would you be able to donate $2,000 to help 300 struggling families,” Cox wrote, in accordance with paperwork. “I and another donor are taking care of turkeys and any additional sides.”
Metro investigators wrote they believed the data in Cox’s solicitation to be fabricated, and upon reviewing Cox’s contribution and expense report, discovered she by no means donated any cash to the trigger.
“While Cox’s lack of donation is not criminal, it reveals her deep lack of integrity in the position she holds,” Metro detectives wrote within the officer’s report.
Metro investigators cited the incident as proof of alleged misconduct of workplace through the use of one other individual to donate cash for personal profit.
Inner affairs
After reviewing paperwork and texts from three years in the past, Metro investigators alleged Cox misused her workplace by intervening within the disciplinary motion of a Henderson Police worker, in accordance with paperwork obtained by 8 Information Now.
Paperwork present the preliminary investigation by Henderson Police Division’s Inner Affairs division began in 2022 after accusations an worker violated office professionalism.
In January 2023, Metro investigators allegedly discovered texts wherein an unnamed particular person requested for Cox’s help within the inner affairs investigation after sharing case paperwork with the councilwoman.
“I was so unnerved [sic] with how everything was handled or should I say, not handled in this case,” Cox allegedly texted in accordance with the officer’s report.
One month later, Metro investigators discovered texts despatched from the identical particular person to Cox wherein the councilwoman is thanked for her alleged involvement in throwing out the investigation, the doc stated.
“Just called. Thank you so much Carrie… false and unjust IAB case was thrown out… back to work and so thank fun [sic] for your help,” the person allegedly texted to Cox in accordance with the officer’s report.
In October 2024, Cox allegedly wrote to an unnamed person that the Henderson Police Division’s inner affairs unit wanted to be “cleaned up,” main police to imagine the councilwoman was making an attempt to manipulate police division affairs in violation of her use of public workplace.
Status on the road
On Could 18, 2024, Cox allegedly made identified her intent to publish a picture, taken in a covert capability, of a colleague to wreck their repute, in accordance with paperwork obtained by 8 Information Now.
The title of the colleague is redacted, however Metro investigators allege Cox was in communication with one other particular person to make use of the picture to destroy her colleague’s repute, marriage, and relationships.
“Through interviews, evidence obtained, and communications recovered during this investigation, investigators have learned Cox’s actions are politically motivated with the intent to destroy the reputations of her colleagues to gain popularity within the community,” Metro investigators wrote within the officer’s report. “Garnishing more votes for her re-election in 2026. Relevant to this investigation, it was also learned Cox has ambitions to run for city of Henderson Mayor.”
Metro investigators wrote there was no proof that the picture was printed; subsequently, it was not in violation of any libel legal guidelines.
Keys to the restricted space
In April 2023, Cox was contacted by the Metropolis of Henderson finance division for a licensed cost of town bank card for $43.02 buy of key copies, in accordance with paperwork obtained by 8 Information Now.
Cox allegedly informed the finance division she had made copies of the grasp key for Animal Management Volunteers after being requested to take action by employees, as a favor.
“Cox does not preside over Henderson Animal Control Facilities,” Metro investigators wrote within the officer’s report. “She does not have authorization to make decisions, act on behalf of the facility, delegate tasks, or act in a supervisory capacity.”
Metro investigators wrote Cox allegedly bypassed correct protocol by dispersing police constructing keys to volunteers and belittling the authority of town, however didn’t cite any legislation damaged by doing so.
Cox reacts
Following the discharge of the officer report, Cox and a spokesperson have been contacted by 8 Information Now for a press release and given at the least 24 hours to reply.
Josh Tomsheck, a lawyer representing Cox, wrote in a press release despatched to eight Information Now that Cox will likely be cleared when all the data comes out.
“The beauty of our criminal justice system is that all those accused within it are presumed innocent and afforded the opportunity to defend themselves through the court process,” Tomsheck wrote in a press release. “There is much more that will come to light throughout this process and Mrs. Cox very much looks forward to addressing these allegations through the appropriate channels in Court.”
Tomsheck wrote Cox has a protracted historical past as a devoted citizen of her neighborhood and has zero prison historical past.
“[Cox] is confident those things will remain true and she will be exonerated when all is said and done,” he wrote.
It was not instantly clear if Cox or her lawyer had reviewed or obtained the officer’s report.
Henderson mayor reacts
After studying the officer’s report, Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero despatched a press release to eight Information Now relating to the allegations listed.
“I am outraged by her behavior in violation of the law, as well as the public trust she has sworn to uphold,” Romero wrote. “The evidence uncovered in the 10-month investigation into her actions shows a repeated lack of integrity and character by Ms. Cox and her associates.”
Romero wrote Henderson residents deserved higher than Cox and cited the alleged violations didn’t meet the ethics to which elected officers are sworn to uphold.
“The lengths to which [Cox] went to maliciously malign her colleagues leaves me disgusted,” she wrote.
Following the officer’s report, Romero added she can be assembly with the Henderson metropolis lawyer, metropolis supervisor and different council members to debate the following steps.
“I want to thank the men and women of the LVMPD for their tireless work on this case,” Romero wrote.
Cox was scheduled to look in courtroom for her preliminary arraignment on Nov. 20.
