Video: Trooper fires on man suspected of throwing rocks at NHP

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METRO POLICE

A screen grab from body-cam footage shows a suspect on the ground after being hit by a stun gun.

Fri, Oct 11, 2019 (6:10 p.m.)

The Nevada Highway Patrol on Friday released body-cam footage that shows a trooper a week earlier opening fire on a suspect who’d allegedly been throwing rocks at troopers near Eastern Avenue and U.S. 95.

The bullet, shot by Trooper Jineal Jack on Oct. 4, missed the suspect, Steve Garcia, who was brought down with a stun gun, officials said.

Troopers were summoned shortly after midnight to the freeway’s off-ramp in relation to a pedestrian suffering from a possible medical issue, officials said. Medics were summoned nine minutes later, at 12:16 a.m.

But at 12:23 a.m., troopers on scene encountered a man unrelated to the initial call, who they say was hurling rocks at them, officials said.

Two minutes later, a trooper initiated a stop on Garcia, 28, officials said. A Metro Police helicopter was summoned.

At 12:32 a.m., troopers reported that the man had been shocked and shot at, officials said. Garcia was taken to University Medical Center, although he wasn’t hit by gunfire.

The video shows Garcia near a bus stop at an unidentified location, where a male officer, who’s recording the interaction, is heard demanding Garcia put his hands up. It appears Garcia is holding a large rock.

Officials Friday released a photo of a sizable clay-colored rock.

Garcia is then seen scrambling before he’s brought down by the stun gun — the gunshot also could be heard.

Garcia is heard squirming. Immediately after, a female officer is seen approaching Garcia. “Oh my God, are you shot? Sir, are you hit?”

Garcia was jailed on counts of obstructing police, illicit drug use, assault with a deadly weapon and throwing a deadly missile, Las Vegas Justice Court records show.

Due to lack of probable cause on most counts, a judge ordered Garcia to be released on his own recognizance the next day. Earlier this week, authorities field a criminal complaint, scheduling Garcia for a court appearance Monday, court logs show.

Trooper Jack is a 14-year veteran with the patrol. She was placed on routine paid administrative leave while the Nevada Department of Public Safety investigates the shooting.

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