News

Police settlement with Calvin Darling approved

By BRIAN HAYNES
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Posted: Jul. 26, 2010 | 10:11 a.m.

A $120,000 settlement between the Metropolitan Police Department and the man originally accused of drunken driving in a fatal police crash was approved Monday by the agency's Fiscal Affairs Committee.

The payment will settle Calvin Darling's claims against the Police Department stemming from the May 7, 2009, crash on Flamingo Road near Tenaya Way that killed officer James Manor.

"He's excited to have closure on this, although no amount of money can compensate him for what he's been through," said Darling's lawyer, Sean Sullivan.

After the crash, Darling was charged with drunken driving causing death and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle after failing a field sobriety test and telling police he had had a few beers.

At a news conference, Sheriff Doug Gillespie declared that Manor was responding to a domestic violence call with his patrol car's lights and sirens activated.

Investigators later determined that Manor's patrol car was going more than 100 mph on Flamingo with no lights or sirens when Darling's pickup turned left into its path.

All charges against Darling were dropped.

Gillespie said Monday that he considered calling Darling to apologize but didn't because that could be construed as pressuring him or interfering with the legal process.

"I think I've made it very clear for Mr. Darling that I don't consider him to be the person who caused the accident," the sheriff said.

He said he supported the settlement because of the potential costs and ultimate liability the department could face if the "very emotional case" went to trial.

Darling continues to work as an engineer at the Bellagio and has no lingering medical problems related to the crash, his lawyer said.

"The event still haunts him, but he's getting better every day," Sullivan said.

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  1. Desert Man Jul. 27, 2010 | 11:23 a.m. Report Abuse

    With all the shootings, crashes, abuses of power and other deadly hi-jinks, the feds need to take over metro until its fixed.

  2. Green Dragon Regular Jul. 27, 2010 | 10:17 a.m. Report Abuse

    @RealityKingpin- Metro made sure the only information the press was working with was information that put Darling in a bad light while keeping Manor and Metro safely behind the blue curtain. The fact that an HGN test wasn't administered was ignored as was initial eyewitness testimony to the fact that Manor was clearly, and completely at fault. Any judge would laugh at you for believing it reasonable that someone entering traffic on an otheriwse empty 45 mph street should be prepared for those headlights 600 feet away to be on top of them in 2 seconds. He was perp-walked and publicly accused on the weakest of evidence. Only when unconcealable data supporting eyewitness statements came into play did Metro even begin to acknowledge the POSSIBILITY of wrong-doing. Far too many sworn peace officers have drained the credibility once afforded, defaultedy, to police, through lies and concealment of facts. Ask any experienced judge or attorney and they will tell you the police lie in a de facto procedural manner. The inference anyone must draw from your position is that the public should continue to blindly trust the police in all matters. In this day and age, blind trust in anything or anyone will get you killed or incarcerated. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

  3. TankerUSMA1975 Jul. 27, 2010 | 10:02 a.m. Report Abuse

    @RealityKingpin. Rule # 1. Law enforcement is always right. Rule # 2. If law enforcement is ever wrong, see rule number 1. Do I have it right? Just trying to understand, but not sure I get it.

  4. Calico Wheels Jul. 27, 2010 | 8:58 a.m. Report Abuse

    @RealityKingpin: Give it up dude, I wish your misguided tenacity on this matter was directed at the little girl that started this whole chain of events. Do you slam on your brakes when driving at 75-80 and then get out and tell the guy that rear ended you that it's HIS fault 'cause they rear ended you; so therefore it's technically THEIR fault?!? Shesh!

  5. hermit Jul. 27, 2010 | 8:38 a.m. Report Abuse

    I think the only people who think Metro can do no wrong have not had the misfortune or a family member having the misfortune of dealing with these clowns yet. Of course they will say that if you don't do nothing you have no worries. This is flat out false. When the victim of a home burglery gets hit on by the Metro cop taking a report or when they fail to investigate a sexual assualt of your loved one I think their views of Metro will change.

  6. ScottNV Jul. 27, 2010 | 8:22 a.m. Report Abuse

    The speed limit was 45 MPH (66 feet per second), the officer was going over 100 MPH (150 feet per second). No one making the same left turn into their neighborhood that they have made hundreds of times, at night, upon seeing headlights hundreds of feet away could determine they were covering the distance of a football field every two seconds.

  7. RealityKingpin Jul. 27, 2010 | 7:53 a.m. Report Abuse

    PS...every motorist must insure the street is clear to enter before entering...regardless. Darling did not. Speed or no speed. If you pull out in front of someone you are technically at fault.

  8. RealityKingpin Jul. 27, 2010 | 7:52 a.m. Report Abuse

    MAnor was wrong..albeit with good intentions...however please explain to me what METRO did to CRAG HIS NAME through the MUDD...they reported the facts as they knew them...he admitted to drinking beer prior to driving...he failed some Field tests....that was just basic facts.... Was not malicious.... Now the press just does what they do.

  9. Pianist Jul. 27, 2010 | 12:13 a.m. Report Abuse

    And just where is the girl who caused all of this?

  10. lasvegasman Jul. 26, 2010 | 11:15 p.m. Report Abuse

    I am in no way saying that this is Good or bad...BUT....I know a Doctor(PAC) in town who was barelled into by a Police car and Has Never walked again. He Only got 75K. He is in a wheelchair and can never be a certified Dr. This kind of thing Needs to be fixed...Someone sueing for large amount is not correct either.

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