A late-night flare-up outside Planet Hollywood on the Las Vegas Strip ended with one man tased and under arrest after police say he wrapped an officer in a chokehold during a street disturbance. Responding officers described a hostile crowd throwing bottles, yelling and blocking traffic. According to an arrest report later referenced in local court filings, the man refused several commands before officers fired a Taser and took him into custody.
Court documents released last week identify the suspect as Jose Aviles and state that he was taken into custody around 1:15 a.m. on Jan. 18 near Las Vegas Boulevard and East Paris Avenue, as reported by FOX5. The filings note that paramedics evaluated Aviles at the scene before he was transported to the Clark County Detention Center and booked.
Police say he put an officer in a chokehold
According to the arrest report obtained by local outlets, officers arrived to find a large and unruly crowd near the casino entrance that was throwing bottles, shouting and pushing. As officers tried to detain one person in the chaos, the report states that Aviles came up behind another officer and applied what that officer described as a rear-naked choke while the officer was restraining someone else. Other officers pulled Aviles off, warned that a Taser would be used, and then deployed it when he continued to resist, per KTNV.
Charges, booking and bail
Aviles was booked on charges that include battery on a protected person, obstructing a public officer and resisting a public officer, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The outlet reports that Aviles posted $4,000 bail the same day and was released from custody. The disturbance, which unfolded just outside the casino entrance, led to multiple arrests as officers moved in to clear the area.
What the charges could mean
Under Nevada law, “battery on a protected person” can be filed as an enhanced misdemeanor or elevated to a felony when the victim suffers substantial bodily harm or the offense involves strangulation, bringing potential jail or prison time along with fines. The Nevada Revised Statutes spell out the elements and penalties for battery and related offenses, and legal guides used by both prosecutors and defense attorneys describe how penalties increase when the victim is an on-duty peace officer. See the statutory framework in Nevada Legislature materials for more detail.
Strip policing and crowd trouble
Metro police told reporters that the disturbance began with a performance that started to spill into the roadway and affect Strip traffic, which led officers to step in and break things up, as reported by FOX5. Local coverage notes that officers ultimately took several people into custody in connection with the unrest, per KTNV. Police have increasingly relied on foot patrols along the Strip on busy nights in an effort to keep crowds from spilling into traffic and nearby properties.
Aviles’ case remains active in Clark County court, and prosecutors will decide whether to pursue the enhanced battery charge as the filings move ahead. Court records and any future statements from Metro are expected to shed more light on how this late-night Strip showdown plays out in front of a judge.
