ACLU of Nevada v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada Department of Corrections

We’re suing the Nevada Department of Corrections and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for refusing to release public records related to the death of Ryan Anthony Warren-Hunt, who was brutally beaten and stabbed to death while incarcerated at Southern Desert Correctional Center.

Warren-Hunt was killed in August 2025. After his death, we submitted public records requests to NDOC, LVMPD, and the coroner’s office seeking records related to the incident.

The coroner’s office released responsive records with appropriate redactions. NDOC and LVMPD did not.

NDOC refused to release records, claiming they were confidential because of an ongoing criminal investigation. LVMPD provided only partial and incomplete responses. Both agencies failed to clearly identify what records exist, making it difficult for us to know what information is being withheld.

Under the Nevada Public Records Act, government agencies must release public records unless a specific legal exemption applies. Agencies cannot use vague claims or incomplete responses to avoid transparency. When records contain confidential information, agencies must redact protected information and release the rest.

We’re asking the court to order NDOC and LVMPD to comply with Nevada law and release the requested records with any legally required redactions.