The Lyon County Sheriff's Office is responding to accusations of using excessive force to arrest a suspect after a video of the arrest was posted on YouTube.
The video shows the arrest of a suspect identified as Chris Nixon, but in a post on the LCSO Facebook page, the Sheriff's Office says that the video was selectively edited, with five minutes leading up to the arrest cut off.
The Sheriff's Office says they furnished the video to Nixon, who posted an incomplete version. In response, the Sheriff's Office released video of those five minutes on Facebook.
A release from Lyon County Sheriff Brad Pope says dispatch was advised by a concerned person that an intoxicated man was behind the wheel of a car and provided a license plate number.
They said the man drove over a sidewalk as he left a parking lot.
A Lyon County deputy found the car at a gas station, with Nixon inside, as well as a passenger.
Video released by the LCSO after the car was approached shows Nixon refusing orders from deputies, having an open container in his car, and ultimately resisting arrest.
After issuing multiple orders which were ignored by Nixon, law enforcement responds by grabbing Nixon and using a taser on him, which he breaks free from, before ultimately being thrown to the ground, where a fight breaks out while deputies are trying to handcuff him.
Nixon later pleaded guilty to the charge of resisting arrest, according to the release.
"I trust the Deputy’s decision-making, and know they legally, ethically, and appropriately responded to an individual who did not comply with lawful orders and put the community at risk by being intoxicated and in control of a vehicle," said Sheriff Pope in the release. "This was aggressive law enforcement applied appropriately in our community. This was not a routine stop; it was a situation involving a potential threat to the community that required decisive action."
Video released by the Sheriff's Office can be seen below. It contains coarse language and violent situations. Viewer discretion is advised.
