LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – An attorney for a Las Vegas professional clown said his client was wrongfully arrested while walking home, as police made numerous arrests during protests Downtown.
On June 11, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police reported 94 arrests after protests and demonstrations against ICE enforcement. Around 9 p.m., after two hours of protests, police declared the protest an “unlawful assembly due to protestors engaging in illegal activity” and ordered the crowd to disperse.
That same evening, the Fallout Fringe theater festival was underway at Cheapshot on Fremont Street. Various performers and attendees were unaware of a planned protest and the show continued into the night.
According to the attorney for Jimmy Slonina, his client attended the event and even dressed “festively.” Slonina is a known stage performer across Las Vegas, known for his role in Cirque’s Mystère production.
After the festival, Slonina proceeded to walk to his live-work space 0.3 miles away on Fremont Street called Slonina ArtSpace.
Slonina provided a written account of the ordeal to FOX5.
“Less than 100 feet from the front door, I was detained by law enforcement. Even though I clearly stated I was trying to enter my own business with my surname on the door and even showed my keys, I was placed in zip ties,” Slonina said in the statement.
Attorney Dayvid Figler tells FOX5, his client tried to explain his predicament to officers.
“He was calm, he was collected. He was respectful, and he was explaining that he has the space right there and he was just going home. His car was in that building, so that was the only way he was going to get out of Downtown as well,” Figler said.
Slonina ended up detained for 17 hours at the Las Vegas City Jail. His wife tells FOX5, the ACLU helped Slonina access his much-needed blood pressure medication during the whole ordeal.
“It was a harrowing experience that I don’t wish upon any person,” Slonina said in a statement.
Figler said he has been in contact with Metro Police through this ordeal and ultimately wants charges dropped.
“He should never have been arrested, let alone charged with anything. We’ve communicated our position very clearly to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. They’ve been very receptive to date for the position that we’re presenting to them. I think it’s pretty clear to anyone who would look at the situation: Jimmy was not someone who was supposed to be arrested that night,“ Figler said.
Slonina has a court date set for July 17. He faces charges of unlawful assembly and failure to disperse.
FOX5 asked LVMPD about the allegations, and officers said that they could not comment on Slonina’s case.
LVMPD provided the following information about arrests and policies during dispersal orders:
