Mortensen at Brady traffic stop

      Convicted killer and former Las Vegas police officer Ron Mortensen was involved in the traffic stop of a woman who later alleged ex-officer Christopher Brady sexually assaulted her.
      Clark County District Attorney Stewart Bell said Thursday he met with the woman and is considering whether to ask police to reopen an investigation into the allegation. Such a decision would depend on whether the woman who filed the sexual assault complaint against Brady wants to proceed with the case.
      Police have said they have not been able to gather enough physical evidence to support criminal charges against Brady.
      "She talked to one of our lawyers in the Sex Crimes Division and asked if she could personally talk to us," Bell said. "She related what she wanted to relate and at the same time asked some questions about how things (in the criminal justice system) work and don't work. We answered her questions ... and advised her and her attorney to let us know if they want us to do anything further."
      Bell said if the woman and her attorney, Andrew Myers, ask the district attorney's office to take action, then he will consider discussing the complaint with Las Vegas police.
      "The option would be for us to get together with Metro and decide whether further investigation would be warranted, and it might or might not be (warranted)," Bell said.
      Brady was the crucial witness in the trial of Mortensen, who was convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder in the Dec. 28 drive-by shooting of Daniel Mendoza. Mortensen was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
      Mortensen accused Brady, who admitted being the driver of the vehicle used in the shooting, of firing the fatal shots. Brady has not been charged in the case, much to the dismay of several Las Vegas minority groups.
      Shortly after Brady resigned from the force, the 26-year-old woman came forward to police to say Brady arrested her during a traffic stop for an outstanding traffic warrant. She said that on the way to the Clark County Detention Center, Brady stopped his patrol car and told her to get out of her car. She claimed Brady then ordered her to perform a sex act before taking her to jail for booking.
      Las Vegas police spokesman Phil Roland said police would honor any request by Bell to re-examine the case.
      "If that happens we will do so," Roland said.
      Brady's attorney, Nancy Allf, did not return calls for comment Thursday. Previously she said the complaint was unsubstantiated, as was evidenced by detectives' decision not to seek criminal charges.
      "If the (police) department had found any validity to the complaint, the department would have pursued it," she said.
      Myers said he is still talking with his client about her decision.
      "I've simply advised her to do what she thinks is right and just," Myers said.
      On Thursday, Mortensen's attorney, Frank Cremen, confirmed his client also was at the traffic stop. Myers said Mortensen was there as a backup for Brady.
      "Brady makes the stop and Mortensen rolls up to the scene as backup and ends up searching her car," Myers said. "Ultimately, Brady tells her that this other officer (Mortensen) is the one who is going to decide if she is going to go to jail, and ultimately she goes."
      In the woman's complaint, Mortensen is not accused of any wrongdoing. Roland said police administrators have declined to clarify details of the stop because the case is closed and there was insufficient evidence to support charges.
      "It's a sexual assault investigation so we are not going to release any details because it is confidential," Roland said.
      Myers said his client told him Brady admitted he had no reason for stopping her car.
      "She said he told her he didn't have a reason," Myers said. "Then later he said it was because it was a rental car and he wanted to see a bill of sale."
      Bell said his office became aware of the allegation during Mortensen's trial.
      "We didn't believe it was relevant (to Mendoza's death) ... but we did feel an absolute ethical obligation to bring it to the attention of defense counsel and the court," Bell said.
      He said Cremen interviewed the woman.
      "Mr. Cremen had the same basic information we did and had an opportunity to talk to the young lady," Bell said. "Both sides agreed what she had to say had no bearing on what happened on (the night Mendoza was shot)."