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Lawsuit Accuses Las Vegas Police of Excessive Force in Downtown Traffic Stop
A new federal lawsuit alleges that four Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers used excessive force during a March traffic stop near Fremont and 6th Street, including pointing a gun at a driver's head and slamming him against a patrol car. The suit also highlights the involved officer's online nickname and a high number of use-of-force incidents in his command.
LAS VEGAS â A lawsuit filed in Clark County District Court on November 3 alleges that four Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers used excessive force during a traffic stop in downtown Las Vegas earlier this year. The complaint, brought by Alexis Tellez, accuses the officers of misconduct during a March 13 stop near Fremont and 6th Street.
According to the lawsuit, officers pulled Tellez over after he made an improper U-turn. Tellez's attorneys say he pulled into a nearby parking lot because of traffic and pedestrian congestion and was not attempting to flee. The complaint alleges that after Tellez rolled down his window and raised his hands, an officer identified as Officer C. immediately drew his firearm and pointed it at Tellez's head.
Another officer, identified in the complaint as Brightmon, then allegedly pulled Tellez from his vehicle. The lawsuit claims Officer C. began forcefully pushing Tellez before slamming his head against a patrol vehicle multiple times. Tellez's attorneys allege he repeatedly complained of pain while Officer C. held his head against the side of the patrol vehicle. Despite Tellez's alleged compliance, the complaint says Officer C. told him he was "already going to jail."
The lawsuit further alleges that after Tellez asserted his Fourth Amendment rights, Officer C. became angry and slammed him against the patrol car's guardrails and onto its hood. In total, the complaint alleges Tellez was held against the patrol vehicle for approximately 19 minutes. According to the lawsuit, Tellez suffered bruising to his chest and shoulder, along with physical pain and emotional distress.
Tellez's attorneys argue the March 13 incident was not isolated. The complaint points to social media posts discussing other encounters involving Officer C., whom they say has been nicknamed "Metro Mullet" online. The lawsuit also cites Metro's 2025 use-of-force data. According to the complaint, the Downtown Area Command, where Officer C. is assigned, reported 117 non-deadly use-of-force incidents in 2025, the highest number of any area command that year.
Following the traffic stop, Tellez was charged with obstruction of justice, providing false information to a peace officer, an unlawful method of license plate display, and making an unsafe U-turn. The lawsuit says the Clark County District Attorney's Office declined to pursue the license plate charge. Tellez is seeking dismissal of the remaining charges, along with compensatory damages from LVMPD.
A department spokesperson said LVMPD does not comment on pending litigation. The case adds to growing scrutiny of police use of force in Las Vegas, particularly in the downtown area, and raises questions about accountability and oversight.