Judge bars Vegas police pepperball use

A federal judge in Nevada has blocked the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department from firing pepperballs at protesters unless the demonstrators pose an immediate threat to public safety or engage in assaultive conduct. The order, issued Saturday, stems from a civil rights lawsuit involving a June 2025 arrest during demonstrations in downtown Las Vegas.

The ruling grants a partial preliminary injunction in favor of Kathleen Cavalaro, who sued Metro Police after officers shot her in the back with a pepperball as she walked away. The judge reviewed body-worn camera footage and found Cavalaro likely to succeed in proving the shot was intentional, retaliatory, and excessive. The order prevents the department from using these projectiles in any manner inconsistent with its 2026 Protest Policy.

The incident occurred on June 11, 2025, near the Fremont Street Experience and South Las Vegas Boulevard. Thousands of people gathered to protest federal immigration enforcement policies. Police declared an unlawful assembly and issued five dispersal orders between 8:34 p.m. and 9:07 p.m. Officers then deployed SWAT units and entered a mass arrest mode.

Cavalaro arrived at the scene after 10 p.m. carrying a protest sign. When an officer told her to leave, she turned and retreated while filming on her phone. Body camera video showed officers firing pepperballs into her back as she moved away. Police tackled her and arrested her for failure to disperse and provoking a breach of the peace.

Cavalaro's attorneys alleged that police fabricated details in the official arrest report to justify the force, contradicting the video evidence. The judge denied a broader request to stop Metro from enforcing dispersal orders outside designated zones once demonstrators comply. The court found that request was overly broad and improperly micromanaged police discretion.

The judge cited an ongoing chilling effect on Cavalaro's First Amendment rights as a reason for the injunctive relief. The order applies to all Metro officers and personnel regarding the use of pepperballs as kinetic energy projectiles against protesters.

The department must now adhere to the new restrictions during future demonstrations. The court's decision stands as a partial victory for Cavalaro, who remains a defendant in the underlying civil rights case against the police department.