71°F
weather icon Windy

Metro officer arrested on suspicion of domestic battery, kidnapping

A Metro officer was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of domestic battery by strangulation and kidnapping, police say.

It wasn't immediately clear what led to the arrest of James Burt, a 10-year veteran of the force. He was suspended without pay, Metro said in a news release.

Burt, 41, is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center. He is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

He has been employed by Metro since 2005.

Burt was one of three Metro officers who shot and killed 35-year-old Edmundo Del Valle Jr. during a downtown Las Vegas confrontation in 2009. The shooting was found to be justifiable during an inquest.

The officers said they had no other option but to shoot at Del Valle Jr., whom police said refused to put down a gun he was holding.

On Feb. 14, 2009, officers spotted Del Valle jaywalking near 11th and Fremont streets. While approaching him, they noticed he was holding a gun. Police said he refused to drop it.

Del Valle Jr. was kneeling when he was shot. The officers said that he had pointed the gun at them twice before they fired.

Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST