A former Las Vegas police officer was indicted Tuesday on charges of using excessive force during a January 2015 arrest.
The Justice Department announced that Richard Thomas Scavone, 49, was also indicted on charges of obstruction of justice for falsifying a report. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in the District of Nevada.
According to the indictment, on Jan. 6, 2015, while acting as a police officer, Scavone allegedly assaulted “A.O.” resulting in bodily injury.
Investigators said he injured a woman suspected of engaging prostitution. He reportedly used force when detaining her. The incident was recorded on a body camera.
The indictment alleges that Scavone grabbed the victim around the neck with his hand and threw A.O. to the ground; struck A.O. in the forehead with an open palm; twice slammed A.O.’s head onto the hood of his patrol vehicle; and slammed A.O. into the door of his patrol vehicle.
The obstruction charge alleges that on or about Jan. 6, 2015, Scavone knowingly falsified and made false entries in a document with the intent of impeding, obstructing and influencing the investigation and proper administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of the FBI.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the excessive force count, and a maximum sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 fine on the obstruction count.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Las Vegas Division.
