Body Camera Caught Officer Using Unreasonable Force
- By Ginger Hill
- Mar 23, 2015
In what could be one of the first cases of police misconduct revealed by a body camera, Las Vegas police veteran, Richard Scavone, has been suspended and accused of misdemeanor battery after the camera he was wearing provided evidence that he injured a woman that he arrested for littering and loitering. The incident resulted in a scuffle and the woman receiving a minor facial injury after a piece of jewelry was ripped out of her skin at about 5am on the morning of January 6, 2015.
In a statement given by Clark County Undersheriff, Kevin McMahill, Scavone used “excessive” and “unreasonable” force during this arrest. McMahill also said that camera footage is viewed every time an officer uses force and when a body camera catches one of their officers doing something that appears not to be within the confines of law and policy, Clark County has no problem taking care of it.
Scavone was wearing a body camera as part of a pilot program that put these devices on the collars and lapels of 200 out of 2,400 patrol officers in Clark County.
An internal investigation of this incident is underway.
Image: TFoxFoto / Shutterstock.com
About the Author
Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.