Metro has fired officer indicted on weapons charges

An officer indicted on a felony weapons charge is no longer employed by the Metropolitan Police Department.

Thomas Mendiola was indicted last week on one count of disposal of a firearm to a prohibited person. He is accused of giving a handgun to a two-time felon. If convicted, Mendiola could face one to 10 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.

Mendiola, 23, did not survive his probation period with the police department and was terminated in February.

He was one of three officers involved in a fatal shooting outside the Summerlin Costco last year. In September, a coroner’s inquest found Mendiola and two other officers were justified in shooting Erik Scott outside the Costco store, but Scott’s family has sued the officers and the department in federal court.