LAS VEGAS -- A Metro Police officer has been arrested for using his position as a law enforcement officer to allegedly get two women to expose themselves during traffic stops.
"This is an investigation that took place a little more than a month ago," said Metro Police Assistant Sheriff Ray Flynn. "This is the first one that I can recall in my 32 years where we've had an allegation of this type against one of our officers."
According to an arrest report, Officer John Norman asked one woman to remove her bra. Police say he also placed his hands on the woman's bare breasts, saying he was searching for drugs. That incident occurred December 28, 2011.
The arrest report also outlines an incident that happened in the summer of 2011. The victim told police Norman noticed her in a convenience store and followed her to her apartment complex. She said Norman admitted he did not have a reason to stop her but just wanted to let her know that it was a high crime area and asked for her identification.
The woman admitted to Norman she had warrants for traffic offenses. She told police Norman offered to help her with the warrants, but he wanted to pat her down first. The woman said she was placed in handcuffs and Norman instructed her how to shake out her bra to prove she had nothing hidden in it. The woman said Norman became frustrated with her, saying she wasn't following orders. So, she exposed her breast to prove she wasn't hiding anything.
"The more than 3,000 commissioned officers we have work diligently, work with integrity and do a very tough job out there," said Flynn. "Unfortunately, an incident like this does have a tendency to cloud our good name."
Norman faces two counts of oppression under the color of law, one count of felony coercion and one count of open and gross lewdness.
"We would ask that if there are, not only potential victims out there, but witnesses that may have seen something occur - we ask them to call our sexual assault detail," Flynn said.
On Wednesday afternoon, Officer Norman surrendered to investigators at the Clark County Detention Center where he was arrested. He has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the allegations.
Officer John Norman
