Joseph Ortega is a police officer in Las Vegas, Nevada. In November, 2023, he was arrested and charged with child abuse and domestic violence. His attorney said he was cleared to return to work. The Police Department said he was suspended without pay.
He texted the mother of his two children that he had slapped one of them too hard and should not be left alone with him. She said he broke several things in the home during an argument. While the mother said he never pointed a gun at them, one of the children said he pointed a gun “directly” at them. He also left a loaded gun unattended in the back yard.
The Clark county prosecutor has charged Ortega with two counts of child abuse and two counts of assault domestic violence with a deadly weapon.
- Las Vegas Review-Journal: Police: Officer slapped child in the face, left loaded gun unattended
- Las Vegas Sun: Metro officer charged with child abuse, domestic violence in Las Vegas
