Las Vegas Police Officer Charged With Supplying Gun to Felon

[WildBill]

Las Vegas Metro police officer Thomas Mendiola was charged on a felony weapons charge for giving a handgun to a two-time felon. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 24th. Mendiola was one of the LVMP officers who shot and killed Erik Scott outside the Summerlin Costco last year.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/hearing-set-[abbreviated profanity deleted] ... 34593.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[McKnife]

A rogue cop who believes he's above the law... hopefully he'll rot in prison, but it's doubtful. Welcome to Las Vegas, the NEW New Orleans.

[WildBill]

A rogue cop who believe's he's above the law... hopefully he'll rot in prison, but it's doubtful. Welcome to Las Vegas, the NEW New Orleans.

His lawyer, Ulrich Smith, already has a defense strategy:
1) Officer Mendiola didn't know that Robert Justice was a convicted felon and
2) Even if he did know the gun didn't have any sights, and it was old and rusty and probably didn't even work.

http://copwatch.net/forums/showthread.p ... adid=46152" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[McKnife]

A rogue cop who believes he's above the law... hopefully he'll rot in prison, but it's doubtful. Welcome to Las Vegas, the NEW New Orleans.

His lawyer, Ulrich Smith, already has a defense strategy:
1) Officer Mendiola didn't know that Robert Justice was a convicted felon and
2) Even if he did know the gun didn't have any sights, and it was old and rusty and probably didn't even work.

http://copwatch.net/forums/showthread.p ... adid=46152" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You never know what will happen this time. Maybe they'll "accidentally lose" the gun... or maybe the felon will "accidentally be murdered…" just like they "accidentally destroyed" the video footage of Erik Scott's murder.

His character:

It was later determined that the gun was still in its holster.

“I immediately went to center mass, took aim and discharged my weapon,” Mendiola said.

Scott was a threat, Mendiola said. “I felt that my fellow officer was in immediate and imminent danger,” he said.

Mendiola said he remembered shooting three times, but was later told he fired four times.

“I just fired until I felt that the suspect wasn’t a threat. I perceived him as a threat every time I fired,” he said.”

[WildBill]

The main witness for the prosecution isn't a model citizen. Robert Justice, a two time convicted felon, is turning state witness. He alledgely sold the gun obtained from Mendiola and another gun to an undercover police officer. According to the criminal complaint, Justice told Mendiola about his criminal convictions and Mendiola admitted to knowing about them.

Justice is also charged with conspiring with former Metro Officer William Webb to kill Webb's girlfriend, attorney Nancy Quon.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/federal-probe- ... 82798.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.lvrj.com/news/attorney-at-he ... 82808.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

After reading all of this stuff, it's going to take years to resolve all of the legal issues.

[Oldgringo]

Las Vegas Metro police officer Thomas Mendiola was charged on a felony weapons charge for giving a handgun to a two-time felon. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 24th. Mendiola was one of the LVMP officers who shot and killed Erik Scott outside the Summerlin Costco last year.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/hearing-set-[abbreviated profanity deleted] ... 34593.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The word "giving" implies a "gift". Did no money change hands or was the gun truly a "gift" between a convicted and an unconvicted felon?

[WildBill]

Las Vegas Metro police officer Thomas Mendiola was charged on a felony weapons charge for giving a handgun to a two-time felon. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 24th. Mendiola was one of the LVMP officers who shot and killed Erik Scott outside the Summerlin Costco last year.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/hearing-set-[abbreviated profanity deleted] ... 34593.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The word "giving" implies a "gift". Did no money change hands or was the gun truly a "gift" between a convicted and an unconvicted felon?

Not that is matters, legally, the story stated that the gun was given to Mr. Justice [the felon] in payment for some mechanical work performed on Mendiolo's car.

[Keith B]

Las Vegas Metro police officer Thomas Mendiola was charged on a felony weapons charge for giving a handgun to a two-time felon. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 24th. Mendiola was one of the LVMP officers who shot and killed Erik Scott outside the Summerlin Costco last year.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/hearing-set-[abbreviated profanity deleted] ... 34593.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The word "giving" implies a "gift". Did no money change hands or was the gun truly a "gift" between a convicted and an unconvicted felon?

Not that is matters, legally, the story stated that the gun was given to Mr. Justice [the felon] in payment for some mechanical work performed on Mendiolo's car.

It doesn't matter if he sold it to him or handed to him and said Merry Christmas, he supplied a felon with a gun. Now, it will be up to the prosecution to prove that Mendiola knew about Justice's criminal history and knowingly gave/sold him the gun.

And, I will warn everyone, no LEO bashing in this thread. Specifics about this case are fine, but not generalizations.

[cheezit]

Carma.... it will always get ya

[WildBill]

Carma.... it will always get ya

Karma is even worse.

[Oldgringo]

It doesn't matter if he sold it to him or handed to him and said Merry Christmas, he supplied a felon with a gun. Now, it will be up to the prosecution to prove that Mendiola knew about Justice's criminal history and knowingly gave/sold him the gun.

And, I will warn everyone, no LEO bashing in this thread. Specifics about this case are fine, but not generalizations.

Uh uh, not me.

is not good and bashing a LEO is even worser.

[Rebel]

Carma.... it will always get ya

Karma is even worse.

Oh man that one made me snort and drew all attention in the room to me!!!

Thanks Wildbill!!!

[cheezit]

Carma.... it will always get ya

Karma is even worse.

sorry to disappoint im an auto mechanic.... there for its carma

[Keith B]

Carma.... it will always get ya

Karma is even worse.

sorry to disappoint im an auto mechanic.... there for its carma

Just don't let your Carma run over my Dogma