Drunk SWAT Officer Drives SUV A Mile And A Half On Rims
BY Herschel Smith
11 years, 9 months ago
A Henderson officer suspended after he drove a damaged SWAT vehicle until it caught fire drove at least a mile and a half with sparks shooting from the car.
That is according to the man who called 911 after he followed the smoking SUV to the driver’s gated Southern Highlands neighborhood about 11 p.m. Feb. 27.
“My first thought was a drunk driver or something. It was evident the tire was completely gone on the car. I said, ‘What the hell is this guy doing?’ ” said the man, who asked that his name not be used.
“Hot metal was flying. It looked like something you see in a police chase in a movie where the tire blows and you just keep driving,” he said.
At the time, the caller had no idea the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe was a $50,000 unmarked SWAT vehicle being driven by 36-year-old Justin Simo, a veteran Henderson officer.
The caller followed the Tahoe north on Southern Highlands Parkway and then east on Somerset Hills Avenue. By the time the driver arrived at the gate to the Interlude development, it was on fire.
“The dude came out (of the car) and said, ‘Can you believe this? My car’s on fire,’ ” the caller said. “I said, ‘Dude, you just drove a mile and a half on a blown tire.’ ”
The driver took several water bottles from the car and tried to douse the blaze, which was spreading from the front left tire to the rest of the vehicle.
By this time, the caller was on the phone with 911 dispatchers.
His conversation with Simo could be heard on a Clark County dispatcher’s recording, released Wednesday:
“Dude, hey! Hey, just let it – get back, get away from that thing dude!” the caller yelled.
He then warned the driver about the Tahoe’s fuel line catching fire before responding to the dispatcher:
“I’m sorry. I’m trying to talk to him. I think he’s drunk.”
Henderson police, which has opened an internal investigation into the incident, said there was no indication Simo had been drinking.
Las Vegas police, which investigated the fire, determined nothing criminal had taken place and did not take an incident report, spokeswoman Laura Meltzer said.
It’s unclear whether Simo was given a field sobriety test or an alcohol breath test. Henderson spokesman Keith Paul said that information would be part of the internal case.
Las Vegas police had been aware of the caller’s suspicions.
“He did say the driver was possibly drunk, right?” a police dispatcher asked on the 911 recording.
“Yeah,” the fire dispatcher responded.
Simo was suspended with pay after a Review-Journal story about the incident was published Monday evening, five days after the incident.
The 911 caller said in an interview Wednesday that he assumed the driver was drunk but only because he couldn’t think of another explanation.
The driver hadn’t been stumbling or slurring his words, but he wouldn’t step away from the burning car, he said.
“He told me there was ammo inside,” he said. “I thought, ‘Why don’t you get a little closer, you moron.’ ”
And thus do they have an inferiority complex, having to ask questions like Is SWAT Still Special.
Prior:
Chicago SWAT Raid Gone Terribly Wrong
SWAT Raids Category
UPDATE: The vehicle this officer drive is a total loss.
On March 8, 2013 at 11:49 pm, shawn w said:
no indication?
really?
looks like they’re taking care of their own. no report, no blood, no charges.
insurance will pick up the tag. the tax payers will pay the higher premiums.
the officer will be promoted.
On March 9, 2013 at 5:12 pm, Will said:
Still doesn’t top Henderson’s best:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/feb/07/motorist-kicked-henderson-police-officer-set-recei/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC8ZOw8V2dc
On March 9, 2013 at 5:27 pm, Will said:
Not even Henderson’s best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC8ZOw8V2dc
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/feb/07/motorist-kicked-henderson-police-officer-set-recei/
On March 12, 2013 at 12:40 pm, Mark Matis said:
The guy who was brave enough to call is VERY lucky that the Metropolitan Las Vegas Police Department did not “Eric Scott” him. Although with the way they work, I would not be surprised if he “mysteriously” disappears some time in the near future.
On April 3, 2013 at 7:16 am, Kim said:
I think that the persecution this SWAT officer is now having to endure is disgusting. I happen to know who this guy is. He saved our neighborhood from a shooter who was firing shots at houses in our Anthem neighborhood a few years back. He puts his life on the line for all of us, every day. He was not drunk- he had just gotten off of work for crying out loud. That was just a misinformed comment from a 911 caller who didn’t know the situation. If I had a flat late at night and was close to my house, I would probably try to get home to take care of it, too, and actually have before. Yes, there were sparks when it happened to me from the rim riding on the road. But in his defense, who expects their car to catch fire after a flat? Maybe there was a minor mistake, or it would have been a little smarter to just stop on the street and fix it then. But is that a reason for all of the negative reaction and persecution of this officer? I don’t think so. Just leave him alone and let him continue to do the great job he has always done to protect ALL of us.
On April 3, 2013 at 7:19 pm, Josh said:
Kim, you’re right. It’s so totally disgusting. The neigborhood saviour just needs to be left alone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc