JARA UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION FOR LEAVING CAR ACCIDENT?

                                                 BODY CAM VIDEO

Feb 16, 2023

Rob Lauer Political Reporter

Two weeks ago, Clark County Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara left the scene of a car crash. But when the Las Vegas Metro Police motorcycle patrolman arrived, Jara was gone, and the Clark County School Police were there. For the past two weeks, the media has been denied access to police body camera video of the incident.

Jara refused to account for leaving the scene so far, but his staff claims he wasn’t driving the CCSDPD SUV. Las Vegas Metro Police are investigating the accident and Jara’s actions, according to reports.

CCSD issued the following CYA statement:

“The superintendent was traveling between meetings when the incident occurred. When everything appeared safe and authorities were contacted, he departed for his meeting.”

Jara was fired last year before he was rehired. CCSD Trustee (R) Katie Williams cast the deciding vote with Bernie Sanders Socialist supporter Lola Brooks to retain Superintendent Jara, give him a $75,000 raise, moving his salary from $320,000 to $395,000, and extend his contract for 3.5 years. Katie Williams voted in support of Jara’s job evaluation as “highly effective.”

Jara’s car allowance was canceled in his new contract, so there are serious questions about why he was using a CCSD police SUV and what official business was he on?

Under Nevada law, it’s a crime to leave the scene of an accident when someone is injured. The airbags were deployed and the driver of the car Jara’s SUV hit was injured.

• Metro: Are you able to call this person back? Is it an officer or is it somebody else?
• CCSDPD: No, I think it’s the superintendent of the school district

• Metro: You OK?
• Joe Caruso: Yeah, I cut my wrist.
• Metro: Is that from the airbag or is it from one of your clipboards?
• Caruso: I don’t know but it’s like…
• Metro: It just took the skin off, looks like.
• Caruso: But the airbag… I can’t hear out of my ear.
• Metro: Yeah, well, you can see where it exploded right here (noting injury to Caruso’s face). And you’re bleeding on your ear too

CCSD Police Lt. Mitch Maciszak can be seen on body camera video

• CCSDPD: You going to cite him?
• Metro: Yeah, of course.
• CCSDPD: Just for following…
• Metro: Following too close. He’s the cause of the accident.

multiple school police officers, lieutenants, and even Chief Henry Blackeye showed up on the scene.

• Metro: That was a hard hit.
• CCSD Police Chief Blackeye: Yeah, it was. That car is one of our old, it’s one of our cars. That’s a police package on that so the suspension, it might’ve been worse.

The next Regular Board Meeting is scheduled for Feb. 23, 2023.