Nye County deputy fired, others punished after jail incident

A Nye County Sheriff’s deputy has been fired and other law enforcement officers were disciplined after an inmate in the county’s Pahrump detention facility was shocked multiple times with a stun gun while he was shackled and in handcuffs.

A criminal investigation of the incident last September said to include the FBI is also under way.

Dan Ellis, a veteran jail deputy, was fired on Feb. 25 after video of the incident was reviewed by a detective.

Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo said he would not comment about any open internal affairs investigations but did say his department “self-reported this to the FBI,” in line with a policy to report potential civil rights violations.

As many as six deputies who witnessed the incident but failed to report it have also been disciplined, the newspaper reported Wednesday.

The inmate, whose name has not been released, was reportedly causing a disturbance and possibly even hurting himself when a deputy shocked him with an electric stun gun. Ellis is accused of continuing to shock the man after he was subdued and in retraints.

The prisoner has been described as a homeless man who gave a statement to authorities after he was released.

Nye County district attorney Brian Kunzi declined comment on the case.

“Unfortunately, I cannot offer any comment, because at this stage it is a personnel matter,’’ he said in an email. “All employment disputes have to be resolved in accordance with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.”

Efforts to reach Ellis by telephone and at a Pahrump address were unsuccessful Wednesday.

A county official said Ellis has filed notice that he will appeal his termination.