City of Las Vegas Marshals facing second civil rights lawsuit for abuse of authority

A new lawsuit has been brought against the City of Las Vegas marshals, following a recent class-action claim, alleging abuse of power and violations of civil rights. The lawsuit was filed by the ACLU of Nevada, based on claims by a man who asserts that he was illegally detained and mistreated during a traffic stop. The lawsuit targets the city and four marshals, including Marshal Sergio Guzman, who has come under scrutiny for prior actions.

Back in March, Derek Myers, an Ohio journalist, made headlines when he filed a class-action lawsuit accusing Las Vegas marshals of conducting arrests far outside their designated jurisdiction. The investigation into this matter uncovered Nevada laws that specify the limitations of marshals’ authority, as indicated in a legal opinion by David Roger, the union’s lawyer.

Following Myers’ case, which received widespread attention, a second lawsuit was filed against the city and Marshal Guzman. The ACLU Executive Director, Athar Haseebullah, expressed concern over the lack of accountability within the marshals’ office, pointing out a pattern of questionable behavior. The recent lawsuit alleges that Guzman used excessive force, which was captured on body camera footage, painting a troubling picture of the incident.

During the traffic stop in question, multiple squad cars descended on the scene, escalating a minor infraction into a series of serious accusations against Downes-Covington. Despite the lack of a criminal case moving forward after the incident, the lawsuit contends that Downes-Covington was subjected to unnecessary bullying and harassment at the hands of the marshals, revealing a pattern of over-policing in certain communities.

The lawsuit accuses the city of condoning unconstitutional policing practices and allowing marshals to overstep their authority during traffic stops. This lawsuit raises serious concerns about the conduct of local law enforcement and the need for accountability and adherence to the law. The city has acknowledged the lawsuit but has refrained from further comment due to pending litigation, emphasizing its commitment to transparency and accountability.