LAS VEGAS — A series of lawsuits filed in recent months accuse the Las Vegas City Marshals, a limited-jurisdiction law enforcement agency, of operating outside their legal boundaries, engaging in false arrests, and using excessive force—allegations that civil rights advocates say point to a systemic abuse of power.
At the center of both lawsuits is Deputy City Marshal Sergio Guzman, who is named as a defendant in separate incidents involving illegal traffic stops and alleged civil rights violations.
These lawsuits claim that Guzman and other marshals have repeatedly overstepped their legal authority, which under Nevada state law is restricted to city-owned properties like parks and municipal buildings.
Two Men, Same Pattern
Case 1: Lance Downes-Covington
In a lawsuit filed last week, Lance Downes-Covington, a Black city employee, claims that Guzman illegally pulled him over on April 29, 2023, in a residential neighborhood—outside city jurisdiction—for allegedly running a stop sign. What followed, according to the suit, was a terrifying ordeal:
- Guzman allegedly threatened him with a gun and taser
- Forced him onto the hood of a patrol car
- Tased him in the ribs
- Then threw him face-first onto the pavement
Downes-Covington was arrested and charged with obstruction and resisting, both of which were later dismissed. He alleges the incident left him with physical injuries and lasting emotional trauma, including panic attacks, insomnia, and migraines. He also claims to have suffered a breakdown upon later seeing Guzman at his workplace.
The lawsuit, supported by the ACLU of Nevada, names Guzman and fellow deputy marshals Sarkis Jopalian, Janelle Mazza, and Paul Hartz, along with the City of Las Vegas, accusing them of:
- Violating the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments
- Excessive force and false arrest
- Battery and assault
- Intentional infliction of emotional distress
- Negligent training and supervision
The ACLU is seeking $1 million in damages and a court injunction to stop marshals from engaging in illegal traffic stops.
“No one should have to fear being violently assaulted by law enforcement—especially by officers who have no authority to stop anyone in the first place,” said Athar Haseebullah, Executive Director of the ACLU of Nevada.
Case 2: Derek Myers
In a March lawsuit, Derek Myers, a white driver, was pulled over on an interstate highway—again, outside the marshals’ jurisdiction—by Guzman and Deputy Jason Brooks. The marshals accused him of following too closely, then escalated the stop by alleging drunken driving, detaining Myers for 17 hours without formal charges.
His lawsuit is a class action, alleging the Las Vegas City Marshals have committed “hundreds if not thousands” of illegal arrests, searches, and seizures.
Myers captured the arrest on his cell phone, and his legal team claims that body camera footage exists, but the city has refused to release it.
“As a result, Myers suffered loss of liberty, emotional distress – including fear, humiliation, and anxiety, and economic harm, with lasting psychological impact,” reads the complaint.
Myers’ lawsuit accuses the city and marshals of:
- Violating the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments
- False imprisonment
- Battery
- Conducting law enforcement outside their legal authority
A “Rogue Agency”?
Both lawsuits argue that Las Vegas City Marshals are acting as a “rogue law enforcement agency”, encouraged by city policy to enforce laws on non-city roadways despite clear legal restrictions.
A job listing for the position limits marshal duties to city-owned or controlled properties. However, the Marshal’s official website claims they are “authorized to enforce all municipal street and traffic laws,” directly contradicting Nevada law.
The ACLU and Myers’ attorneys argue that this contradiction shows institutional ratification of unlawful behavior.
City Response and Legal Developments
The City of Las Vegas has declined to comment on the lawsuits, citing pending litigation. Meanwhile, Sergio Guzman remains employed, and the marshals have not publicly addressed the mounting allegations.
The city is expected to issue its initial legal response to the Myers lawsuit in the coming days. Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount for city officials to investigate, discipline, and potentially restructure the marshal agency.
“We will not allow government actors to exceed their legal boundaries at the expense of Nevadans’ constitutional rights,” said Haseebullah. “We will continue to relentlessly pursue justice.”