Vegas Crime Files

Everyone remembers the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles.

Almost no one knows what happened next.

Fright Night: The 30 Days of Riots Las Vegas Doesn’t Talk About

What this episode covers:

• The overlooked Las Vegas riots following the Rodney King verdict
• Why the unrest lasted 30 days, not just one night
• The role of gangs, media, and delayed response
• How close rioters came to downtown Las Vegas
• Firsthand accounts from officers under fire
• Lessons learned that changed policing going forward

👤 Guests:

• Lt. Governor Stavros Anthony – Nevada Lieutenant Governor, former Metro Police Captain, author of Knights of Fire
• David Radcliffe – Metro officer on the front lines
• Eddie Kravetz – Metro sergeant, community policing specialist
• David Sheppard – Former FBI agent, brought armored vehicle support

🔥 Key moments:

• Rioters stopped just short of Fremont Street
• Officers taking sustained gunfire
• Firefighters targeted while responding to fires
• Gangs coordinating attacks
• Armored vehicle deployed under fire

📚 Mentioned:

• Knights of Fire by Stavros Anthony

📣 Connect:

• Email: [email protected]
• Follow & subscribe: Vegas Crime Files

For nearly 30 days, Las Vegas descended into chaos—fires, ambushes, and more than a thousand rounds fired at police, firefighters, and civilians.

In this special episode of Vegas Crime Files, Heidi Harris sits down with Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony—who documented the events—and three officers who were on the front lines.

They describe:

• The night hundreds of rioters marched toward downtown
• The moment officers made a stand just blocks from Fremont Street
• What it was like taking gunfire from all directions
• How gangs that normally fought each other joined forces
• And why the situation spiraled before it was finally shut down

This isn’t history from a textbook—it’s firsthand from the people who lived it.

A major chapter of Las Vegas history… that most people never even knew happened.

In this episode of Vegas Crime Files, Heidi Harris speaks with retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sergeant Tom Page, a 25-year veteran who worked as a patrol, traffic, and training sergeant.

Sergeant Page explains why officers stop vehicles, what drivers must legally provide, and the mistakes people make that can escalate routine traffic stops into dangerous encounters.

If you drive in Nevada — or anywhere — understanding how traffic stops work can help keep situations calm and safe for everyone involved.

• The two legal reasons police can stop a vehicle: probable cause and reasonable suspicion

• Why officers sometimes run license plates at stoplights

• What drivers are legally required to provide during a stop

• Why signing a traffic citation does not mean admitting guilt

• What happens if you refuse to sign a ticket

• When police can legally ask drivers to step out of the vehicle

• Why officers may temporarily use handcuffs during a stop

• The difference between a pat-down and a search

• How DUI investigations work, including field sobriety tests

• Special traffic enforcement issues unique to Las Vegas

Sergeant Tom Page (Ret.)

Former Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sergeant with 25 years of service, including patrol, traffic enforcement, and officer training.

Most traffic stops are routine encounters. But misunderstanding your rights — or refusing basic lawful instructions — can quickly escalate a situation. Knowing what officers are legally allowed to do, and what drivers are required to do, can prevent unnecessary conflict.

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🌐 Website: vegascrimefiles.com

📧 Contact: [email protected]

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Episode Summary

What happens to police officers when someone forces them into a life-or-death decision?

In this episode of Vegas Crime Files, Heidi Harris speaks with retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officer Marcus Martin, who spent nearly 25 years with Metro after serving nine years in the Marine Corps.

Marcus describes two incidents in his career involving suicide by cop, including a call during his first week on the jobthat he says he will never forget.

The conversation explores what these situations are really like for officers on scene, the emotional toll they carry afterward, and why these incidents are often misunderstood by the public.

• What “suicide by cop” actually means
• A shocking incident during Marcus’s first week as a police officer
• The psychological impact these incidents have on officers
• Why the public often misunderstands police use-of-force situations
• What happens to officers after a critical incident
• The importance of counseling and support after traumatic calls

Marcus Martin served nine years in the United States Marine Corps and nearly 25 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. During his career he worked patrol and critical incident investigations and experienced multiple situations involving suicide by cop.

Vegas Crime Files explores the real stories behind crime in Las Vegas through interviews with the people who were there — detectives, journalists, and witnesses who experienced the cases firsthand.

Host Heidi Harris, a longtime Las Vegas broadcaster and member of the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame, brings decades of local knowledge and connections to the stories that shaped the city.

When Lake Mead’s water levels dropped, they revealed more than abandoned boats and buried history—they revealed a body sealed inside a barrel. Who was this person, and why has no one ever identified them? In this the premier episode of Vegas Crime Files, host Heidi Harris explores the mystery alongside a cold case detective and a veteran journalist, uncovering the investigative dead ends, the unanswered questions, and the quiet human tragedy behind one of Las Vegas’s most unsettling discoveries.

Body https://news3lv.com/news/local/body-found-in-barrel-at-lake-mead-remains-unidentified-after-three-years

Shoes and clothing https://www.8newsnow.com/investigators/clothing-shoes-could-help-id-man-found-dead-in-barrel-at-lake-mead-outside-las-vegas/

What did he look like? https://www.crimeonline.com/2023/11/30/fbi-provides-composites-of-man-found-shot-dead-in-barrel-in-lake-mead-last-year/

Son of drowning victim recently discovered speaks out https://news3lv.com/news/local/son-of-identified-lake-mead-victim-remembers-father-thomas-erndt-clark-county-southern-nevada-las-vegas-skeletal-remains-20-years-later-2002-drowning

Clothing https://www.8newsnow.com/investigators/clothing-shoes-could-help-id-man-found-dead-in-barrel-at-lake-mead-outside-las-vegas/

Mob Museum story on bodies in barrels https://themobmuseum.org/blog/stuffing-murder-victims-in-barrels-a-common-practice-since-mid-19th-century/

Vegas cold case recently solved https://dnasolves.com/articles/stephanie-isaacson-murder/

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