Las Vegas residents tell of alleged excessive force, police abuse at peaceful protests

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Below is video of local attorney Athar Haseebullah asking an officer why his fraternity brother is being detained, but instead of answering, the officer detained him too.

Athar says he and his fraternity brothers were waiting for an Uber after leaving a protest Monday night when they saw police arresting a man across the street. So, his frat brother started recording.

That's when, he claims, the officers singled them out.

WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC LANGUAGE

"He's pointing at my fraternity brother, and all of a sudden, three officers charge in our direction. At least two of the officers tackled him to the ground," Haseebullah explained.

He says before this interaction, he and his friends were recording themselves singing their fraternity hymn in front of the courthouse; when he says officers started firing bean bags at them without warning.

"Our backs were turned and there was no verbal directive to disperse to leave no nothing," said Haseebullah.

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Athar recently received a community partner award from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

He says the fact that he was still treated like a criminal despite his accomplishments is a part of the reason people are out in the streets protesting right now.

Eventually, police let him and his frat brothers go, but he says it's a situation that could've ended much differently for someone else.

"It can't be a situation where civilians are required to deescalate the situations from officers, it put an unfair burden and earnest on those that are peacefully protesting." Haseebullah said.

Dequincy Taylor is a local activist and former North Las Vegas mayoral candidate.

"All across the world, they're protesting this very same issue, when the world uproars about a nation that's brutalizing a culture of people we need to realize and pay attention to that," said Taylor.

Taylor attended a protest Sunday night and says, even though he remained peaceful, he got hit with rubber bullets that left bruises all over his body.

"We didn't hear a warning to disperse, I didn't hear one. I was waiting for one," Taylor said.

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Tod Story, executive director of the ACLU Nevada, says they have an issue with some of the methods police are using on protestors.

"Rubber bullets and pepper balls, and we think it's unnecessary and overly aggressive. If they're issuing an order to disperse, they need to give people time and understand it takes time, in some cases people may not have even heard them," said Story.

The ACLU is urging any protestors who have had issues to file complaints with the police department.

They've also set up a page on their website where the community can share stories about what they've experienced.

LVMPD released a new use of force policy to officers last month, which contains what Story called "welcome changes."

"We must do more in recognizing the equality and sanctity of the lives of every member of our community," Story tweeted regarding the policy. "The words in this updated policy move us a little closer, now it's time for action. Show us #BLM."