Las Vegas NowJuvenile Corrections Supervisor Faces Abuse Charges

Juvenile Corrections Supervisor Faces Abuse Charges

A juvenile corrections supervisor faces felony child abuse charges for allegedly hurting a teen in his custody.

Police believe Thomas Gallia, a juvenile detention supervisor, pushed a teenage inmate so hard that he fell and broke his wrist. In addition, investigators say Gallia did not immediately take the boy to the hospital but instead left him hand-cuffed on his stomach and alone in his cell for 30 minutes.

Gallia was booked into the Clark County Detention Center Friday. Though he's not currently in custody. Prosecutors have charged him with felony child abuse with substantial bodily harm.

In his statement to police, Gallia said the teen repeatedly banged on the window of his cell. In an effort to calm him, Gallia claimed he entered the cell. Gallia claims the teen made an aggressive move toward him. Gallia then quote "used a left hand plant to (the teen's) chest and he fell backwards, striking his left ear on the bench in the cell."

Gallia told investigators he then cuffed the teen's hands behind his back and left him face down.

"If that turns out to be the case, that certainly would not have been appropriate. And part of our administrative investigation is to determine why he was left in the cell by himself and the whole circumstances around that," said Cherie Townsend, Clark County Dept. of Juvenile Justice.

At least one witness disputes Gallia's story. Another detention officer told police, while handcuffed, the teen was "wailing in pain and his face was turning red." That witness was worried about a head injury and the boy's ability to breathe.

The Metro investigation also found several policy violations. The Department of Juvenile Justice services is in the process of hiring an outside consultant to review the incident

In the meantime, Gallia, a 12-year veteran of the department, is on administrative leave with pay.