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A late-night street performance on the Las Vegas Strip attracted such a massive crowd in the early hours of Sunday, January 18th, that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police were called out to respond. According to the police, people initially started to gather peacefully to enjoy a show, but the crowd grew so large that it ultimately impeded pedestrian street traffic.
What started as a fun-filled night ended in at least 11 arrests.
The incident started at around 1:30 A.M. right outside of the Paris Las Vegas hotel. Once police arrived, they began asking the crowd to disperse from the roadway so that people could continue down the Strip. That’s when things took a turn, and the crowds started to become unruly. The responding officers called for backup, and they began attempting to take people into custody who were not obeying the police order to disperse from the road.
At that point, someone in the crowd threw an object at officers, and it struck an officer. Thankfully, that police officer was not injured by the object, but a heavier police response was the immediate response. A police helicopter circled overhead as officers took at least 11 people into custody, including Jose Aviles, the suspect accused of tossing the object at the officers. Pedestrian traffic returned to normal around 3 A.M.
Jose Aviles is facing serious charges, including battery on a protected person, resisting a public officer, and making a false statement to an officer. Aviles was later released after posting $4,000 in bail.
In Las Vegas, all of Aviles’ criminal charges are likely considered misdemeanors. Resisting a police officer is a charge that often results in penalties of six months in jail and fines. Simple battery of a protected person, when it doesn’t result in an injury, is also usually charged as a misdemeanor that could result in up to a year in jail and up to $2,000 in fines. Making a false statement to an officer is also a misdemeanor that could result in up to six months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.
All of these charges, however, could always be upgraded to felony offenses when aggravating factors are present. For instance, when someone uses a deadly weapon or their actions result in a severe injury, it’s likely their charges will be upgraded, and the penalties will be more severe.
In Vegas, it’s also considered a crime to incite a crowd or provoke a public disturbance. Specifically, it’s illegal to throw objects, block traffic, and refuse lawful orders to disperse. Generally, these laws are used when protests get out of hand, but they can also be applied to unruly gatherings, such as the one on the Strip over the weekend.
If you ever get arrested at a large gathering, it’s a good idea to consider hiring an attorney. Schedule a free phone call with our team of Las Vegas lawyers now by leaving your contact details on our online form.
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