Undercurrent

Police knew Kamara was an assault suspect before Pro Bowl 

By: - February 7, 2022 1:57 pm

Sheriff and Republican gubernatorial candidate Joe Lombardo cited “contractual wage increases from settled collective bargaining agreements” as the primary reason for the spike. (Photo: Ronda Churchill)

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police identified New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara as a suspect in an early Saturday morning assault at Drai’s nightclub before he played in the Pro Bowl on Sunday, Metro confirmed Monday.

“It was known that he (Kamara) would be participating in the Pro Bowl and was interviewed at Allegiant Stadium after the game,” Metro said. “Subsequently he was arrested and transported to the Clark County Detention Center.”

Assistant Sheriff John McGrath, speaking on behalf of Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo who is out of town, says Metro allowed Kamara to play because they need his cooperation in identifying other participants in the assault. 

“We got in touch with NFL security about 10 o’clock in the morning and let them know that he (Kamara) was a suspect in the case and they located him and he was already on the field,” McGrath told the Current via phone. “So they contacted him and he agreed to meet with us after the game. And so that’s just the way we did it since he was cooperating.”

A spokeswoman for Drai’s declined to say when Metro reviewed photos and video of the assault.  

A police report says Metro Det. Austin Bone interviewed the victim, Darnell Greene, at Sunrise Hospital Saturday night around 6 p.m. Greene did not name his assailant, according to the report.  

“Arriving officers were advised that there was a delay in reporting due to the victim receiving treatment and that the incident had occurred approximately 10 hours prior,” says the statement from police. “Detectives responded and conducted follow-up investigation where the alleged crime occurred and were able to identify a suspect, Alvin Kamara.”

Bone interviewed Kamara at Allegiant Stadium following Sunday’s Pro Bowl, the police report says. Surveillance video of the incident contradicted Kamara’s account, according to the police report. 

Kamara was arrested and booked on a felony charge of battery resulting in substantial bodily harm, and released on bond. A status check, scheduled for Monday, was postponed until March. 

This story was updated with a statement from Assistant Sheriff John McGrath.

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Dana Gentry
Dana Gentry

Dana Gentry is a native Las Vegan and award-winning investigative journalist. She is a graduate of Bishop Gorman High School and holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

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