Friday, June 22, 2001 | 11:20 a.m.
Metro Police agreed to give an officer who was charged and later cleared of drug crimes nearly a quarter-million dollars to settle a discrimination complaint.
The $235,000 negotiated settlement must be approved by Metro's fiscal affairs committee at its meeting on Monday, but the five-member board normally approves settlements made by the department.
Officer Jon Aaron Brown, who nearly died from a drug overdose in May 1999, was criminally charged with drug trafficking and being under the influence of drugs. An internal investigation completed at the time recommended he be fired.
But after a Clark County District Court jury in January came back with a verdict of not guilty and more information about the incident came out during the trial, the internal investigation was reopened and he was cleared of any internal offenses in April. Brown had been on administrative leave with pay for nearly two years until he was cleared of the criminal and internal charges.
"After his acquittal, information at the trial led to the conclusion that he was not culpable of any internal or external offenses," a written recommendation to the board signed Metro Comptroller Lois Willis said. "Under the advice of counsel, this settlement agreement was reached."
Brown, 34, didn't file a lawsuit, but had filed a discrimination and retaliation complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The settlement ends those complaints.
"I could have gone to court and three to four years down the road go to court and maybe win and maybe lose," he said. "This clears this up and I can get on with my career."
Brown returned to active duty April 14 patrolling in the Downtown Area Command.
Metro spokesman Sgt. Christopher Darcy declined comment, stating the settlement has not been approved.
Sheriff Jerry Keller said he relied on the advice of the department's attorneys in determining to settle the case.
The fiscal affairs committee, made up of a citizen and two members each from the Las Vegas City Council and the Clark County Commission, oversees Metro's money issues and must approve all payouts on lawsuit settlements.
Lydia Gorzoch, who was charged along with Brown in the criminal case, initially refused to talk with internal affairs investigators, but after a statement from her and after a former boyfriend of Gorzoch talked with investigators, Brown was cleared of internal charges, Undersheriff Richard Winget said in April.
Brown's trouble started May 25, 1999, when he spent the night partying with Gorzoch. After a night of drinking, Gorzoch called 911 saying Brown was unconscious and had taken gamma hydroxybutyrate, commonly known as GHB, and Ecstasy at her apartment.
At the time of the incident, police searched Gorzoch's apartment and found materials used to make GHB and 108 grams of the drug inside a water bottle. Gorzoch later cut a deal with prosecutors and testified against Brown.
Brown maintained he accidentally drank the GHB, which was in a container in Gorzoch's refrigerator, and believes someone slipped Ecstasy into his drink at a bar. Gorzoch testified at Brown's trial he knowingly took the Ecstasy. But jurors in January apparently didn't believe Gorzoch and found Brown not guilty.
Gorzoch, who was arrested at the same time as Brown, was sentenced to two years' probation in the deal with prosecutors.
Brown, who spent about $20,000 in attorney's fees defending himself in the criminal charges, said he's pleased the department negotiated with him to end the claim.
"This is truly over now," he said. "I just want to forget it ever happened."
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