Las Vegas taxpayers are footing the bill for yet another payout stemming from the June 2025 ICE protest in downtown Las Vegas — this time, $20,000 to settle a claim against a city corrections officer accused of using religion to threaten and intimidate people held in jail.
Our previous reporting detailed Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department payouts to protesters totaling nearly half a million dollars. But this settlement involves the City of Las Vegas directly, not Metro police. It centers on City Corrections Officer Bernabe Ibarra, who is accused of preaching a six-minute religious sermon to detainees — even after at least one tried to opt out.
Watch the Channel 13 investigation:
Las Vegas pays $20,000 after officer preached to ICE protest detainees
Kathleen Cavalaro attended the protest that night carrying a sign that read “Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself.” Body camera video shows how the sign became a shield against pepper balls — 48 of them, according to court records — fired by SWAT Officer Mark Eshe and then-Deputy Chief Bryan Peterson. Court records also say Peterson shot her in the back as she was following orders and walking away…