Metro Police Officer Thomas Mendiola testifies during a coroner’s inquest for Erik Scott at the Regional Justice Center on Sept. 28, 2010. Scott was shot and killed by Metro officers at the Summerlin Costco store July 10.
Friday, May 13, 2011 | 3 p.m.
Related Document (.pdf)
Sun Archives
- Metro officer tied to Costco shooting faces felony weapons charge (1-31-11)
- Erik Scott family drops Costco from federal lawsuit (1-20-11)
- Erik Scott family buys 4 billboard ads seeking Costco video (10-28-10)
- Police officers found justified in Erik Scott shooting; family plans lawsuit (9-28-10)
- Detective: Erik Scott had pain medicines from several doctors (9-27-10)
- Witnesses give conflicting accounts of Costco police shooting (9-25-10)
- Shoppers recount police shooting outside Costco (9-24-2010)
- Officer in Costco shooting says man raised gun, didn't know it was in holster (9-23-2010)
- Inquest testimony focuses on Erik Scott’s use of prescription drugs (9-22-10)
One of three Metro Police officers who shot and killed Erik Scott outside the Summerlin Costco last summer was indicted Friday on a charge of disposing a firearm to a prohibited person.
Thomas Rosco Mendiola was relieved of duty without pay in January pending the outcome of an investigation after he allegedly gave a firearm to a convicted felon as a gift for working on his car.
Mendiola, William Mosher and Joshua Stark shot and killed Scott on July 10 last year outside Costco after authorities say Scott pointed a gun at police. A Clark County coroner’s inquest jury ruled in September after six days of testimony the three officers were justified in the shooting.
According to a criminal complaint, Mendiola gave a .22-caliber Ruger handgun to Robert Justice, 45, as a gift for working on his car in August 2010. Justice has convictions for two felony offenses and is prohibited from possessing firearms, authorities said.
Mendiola had met Justice in July when Justice first worked on Mendiola’s car, the report said. Justice told police Mendiola gave him the gun, an extra magazine and a box of ammunition as a gift.
Justice later sold the gun and a .357-caliber handgun to an undercover detective, the complaint said.
When questioned, Mendiola admitted to giving Justice the gun and knowing the man had been in prison. He told police the gun “wasn’t even working, it was just beat up,” the complaint said.
Mendiola is scheduled to be arraigned May 26 in Clark County District Court.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy