A Henderson man who says he was just collecting discarded aluminum cans outside a city recreation center is now suing the officer he accuses of tackling and punching him, leaving him with a black eye, fractured facial bones, and lingering injuries. The civil complaint, filed this month, names Officer Ernesto Trejo and seeks more than $15,000 in damages. Chavez alleges the encounter happened on Sept. 28, 2025, and the city confirms Trejo is still on the force.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
In the complaint filed Jan. 23, 2026, Victor Chavez says he was pulling cans from city trash receptacles near a Henderson recreation center when Trejo rushed him, tackled him to the ground, and punched him on the right side of his face. Chavez says the encounter left him with a fractured right cheekbone, hemorrhaging around his right eye, blurred vision, and torn rotator cuff tendons.
The suit points to a Henderson Police Department arrest report that references a takedown and notes officers transported Chavez to a local hospital before booking him into custody. According to the Las Vegas Review‑Journal, those injuries and use-of-force allegations form the core of the case.
Charges, Court Records, and the Scene
Henderson police originally cited Chavez on misdemeanor counts, accusing him of tampering with a trash receptacle and of resisting and obstructing a public officer. Municipal court records later show those misdemeanor charges were dismissed.
Chavez’s lawsuit seeks compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress in an amount exceeding $15,000. The confrontation is described as taking place near the Valley View Recreation Center in the Valley View neighborhood. Case information related to the underlying citations and proceedings is available through the Henderson Municipal Court.
City Response and Counsel
City officials told reporters that Trejo remains employed with the Henderson Police Department. Chavez’s attorney, Adam Breeden, says the city sent him an early settlement request, although he has not yet discussed resolving the case with his client.
Breeden’s filing spells out the treatments Chavez says he has undergone and the ongoing symptoms he attributes to the incident. As reported by the Las Vegas Review‑Journal, those represent the positions of Chavez’s legal team and the city at this stage.
Officer Background and What Comes Next
Trejo’s name has surfaced in other recent department matters. Local coverage identified him as one of the officers involved in a December 2025 shooting inquiry, when he and another officer were placed on administrative leave while that incident was reviewed. For that earlier identification, see FOX5 Las Vegas.
Chavez’s civil complaint now moves into the early stages of the court process. The city will have an opportunity to file an answer, both sides can engage in discovery and they can either negotiate a settlement or gear up for a contested trial.
How the department’s written reports, any footage and witness accounts stack up against Chavez’s narrative will likely determine whether this case fades quietly into a settlement or ends up in front of a jury. Lawyers on both sides say the next few weeks of filings and evidence gathering will set the tone for the fight ahead.
