The Metropolitan Police Department on Tuesday is expected to provide additional details of a police shooting that occurred days earlier near an off-Strip hotel involving a man who police said pointed at pneumatic gun at an officer.
Metro on Monday identified the officer involved in Saturday’s shooting near the Orleans Hotel and Casino as Alex Pena, 26, who has been placed on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a review of the shooting.
Pena shot Mitchell Nettles, 43, following a foot pursuit early Saturday that started while Pena was on patrol near the 4500 block of Arville Street, between West Harmon and West Tropicana avenues, according to Nettles’ arrest report. Nettles faces three felony charges of assault on a protected person with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed dangerous weapon without a permit and resisting a public officer with a dangerous weapons, according to online court records.
Pena saw Nettles exit from a wash area marked with no trespassing signs and cross Arville outside of a marked crosswalk at about 3:20 a.m., according to Nettles’ arrest report. Police said that Pena stopped Nettles, who told Pena he worked for Metro but refused to identify himself. Pena approached to handcuff Nettles but Nettles shouted at the officer and ran away heading north.
During a foot chase, the report said, Nettles reached into his waistband and pulled out what Pena believed was a gun and pointed it at Pena. Pena fired his gun at Nettles, who dropped his weapon — which according to the arrest report was a pneumatic gun — and continued running.
Worried that Nettles would access the nearby Orleans hotel, Pena shot at Nettles again and struck Nettles in his left thigh. Another officer shot Nettles in the back with a bean bag round fired from a low-lethality shotgun, police said.
Nettles was arrested outside of Orleans Arena, the report said. Police said Nettles was transported to University Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries, and police noted he declined to speak with detectives while at the hospital.
Las Vegas Justice Court records show Nettles’ bail was set at $40,000 and that he is being represented by a public defender. He made an initial appearance in court Tuesday and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 13.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Casey Harrison at charrison@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Casey_Harrison1 on X.
