Video reveals Henderson police beating retailer worker who tried to assist, metropolis to pay sufferer $450K

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Metropolis of Henderson should pay $450,000 in damages after a jury determined a former sergeant was negligent and violated a person’s civil rights when he used extreme power towards him in 2018. A jury in Clark County delivered a verdict on Wednesday.

“It was by no means about cash. It was about accountability. My solely hope is, is that it’s sufficient that it’ll make Henderson change their methods. And I fear about that. And that’s the way you punish folks in our system is, , cash,” Herndon informed the 8 Information Now Investigators. “Our hope was that it could be sufficient to make Henderson change.”

In 2018, Herndon was an assistant retailer supervisor at Sportsman’s Warehouse. Police responded to the shop after a name about an armed shoplifter. Surveillance video obtained by the 8 Information Now Investigators reveals officers strategy the suspect at gunpoint after which he runs.

Herndon mentioned he labored for the Division of Wildlife as a sport warden for greater than two many years. He recollects his instincts kicking in.

“I didn’t know what he would do,” Herndon mentioned recalling leaping on the suspect. He by no means anticipated what would unfold.

“I noticed stars,” he mentioned. “Any person had like had their arms wrapped round my throat and was lifting me up, which so I peeled fingers off my throat, bought hit just a few extra instances within the face.”

Sergeant Michael Gillis is seen on video placing Herndon with an M4 rifle and utilizing a stun gun.

Herndon mentioned he suffered a number of accidents together with a concussion, everlasting nerve injury and a few reminiscence loss. There’s one second after the incident that he can recall although.

“They sort of chuckled and mentioned, ‘Hey, we will need to have mistaken you for the unhealthy man,’” Herndon mentioned.

Herndon mentioned he reached out to the town of Henderson with the hopes for accountability. Pissed off that he wasn’t getting outcomes, he linked with the legal professional Marjorie Hauf of H&P Legislation who filed a lawsuit towards the Metropolis of Henderson, Gillis and 5 different officers in 2021.

“It was very clear to me that, primary, the police had no plan, that they escalated the scenario to a degree that it didn’t must escalate to,” Hauf informed the 8 Information Now Investigators.

Gillis testified that he wouldn’t do something in a different way and the incident tarnished his repute, a declare Hauf was prepared for. She requested Gillis about his historical past which included 5 to 10 inquiries that he had used extreme power, a criticism that he had punched a girlfriend within the face in 2006, and allegations that he harassed girls at a Starbucks whereas he was doing his paperwork for the police division in 2015.

Gillis additionally voided site visitors tickets for relations and pals. Gillis admitted that he had been positioned on depart with pay 4 instances. He testified that this sometimes occurs following taking pictures incidents the place a person died or there was substantial bodily hurt to that particular person.

Gillis is now retired.

After an extended court docket battle, the case went to a jury in Clark County, and the decision was reached on March 6.

The jury determined each Gillis and the town violated Herndon’s civil rights and have been negligent.

Hauf mentioned Herndon’s case demonstrated how the Henderson Police Division allowed incidents like that to occur.

“They’d no intention of correctly investigating both the incident or the inner affairs investigation,” Hauf mentioned. “The entire thing was only a large rubber stamp. We’re simply going to say they did the best factor.”

The 8 Information Now Investigators reached out to the Metropolis of Henderson and didn’t obtain a response by airtime Friday.

The case marked the primary civil rights trial in state historical past below a brand new rule that got here down from the Nevada Supreme Court docket. Beforehand, civil rights instances might solely be dealt with in federal court docket.

To succeed in investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, e-mail vmurphy@8newsnow.com.

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