Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Metro Police ID officer burned in accident

Updated Tuesday, May 19, 2015 | 12:16 p.m.

A Metro Police officer in Sandy Valley was seriously burned on his face, neck and hands after burning trash in a barrel exploded, police said.

Police determined there were some plastic containers and aerosol cans at the bottom of the barrel and that some of those items ignited, officials said. Police said it appeared the incident was a "tragic accident."

Patrol officers were dispatched about 5 p.m. to a vacant home in the 2000 block of Woods Avenue to investigate a report of a burglary, police said. Officers met the homeowners, who had found garbage in the house that didn't belong to them and were burning papers, police said.

While the items were burning, a large flash of flame erupted from the barrel, injuring Officer Jeffrey Snook, 46. Another officer rendered aid until medical personnel arrived, police said.

Snook was taken by helicopter to University Medical Center. His injuries did not appear life threatening, and Snook remained at the hospital Tuesday undergoing treatment, police said.

Snook has been with Metro since January 2000 and is assigned to the Community Policing Division, Enterprise Area Command.

Sandy Valley is southwest of Las Vegas, near the Nevada-California border.

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