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Las Vegas Officer 1st Since 1990 Charged With Manslaughter

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A suspended Las Vegas police officer has become the first in 27 years to be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of a person he was trying to arrest

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said Monday that Officer Kenneth Lopera's on-duty actions in the early May 14 death of Tashii Brown crossed a line into criminal conduct.

The court filing was expected, after Lopera was arrested June 5 on felony manslaughter and oppression under color of office charges.

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Lopera is free on $6,000 bail pending arraignment Aug. 21.

Brown also used the name Tashii Farmer.

Police officials say Lopera used a stun gun seven times and punched Brown several times before putting him in an unapproved neck hold for more than a minute.

Lopera's police union legal representative, Steve Grammas (GRAE'-mas), says they'll fight the charges.