Videos captured this weekend show Lafayette police shoving and punching a teenager during a car stop in a parking lot. One officer has been put on paid administrative leave and another two have been pulled from patrol duties pending an investigation.
Police initially were called to Acadian Lanes Bowling Alley Saturday night after a 911 call was made about a person with a gun. Responding officers left the scene after they were unable to find anyone who matched the description.
According to The Advocate, a little later in the evening, officers were back at the bowling alley in the parking lot conducting a traffic stop. While the reason for the stop is unknown, one video shows police detaining a teen in front of concerned witnesses.
When the detained teen’s twin brother who is standing next to another bystander begins to ask questions, an officer yells “Hey get off me man!” and shoves the teenager backwards. The officer continues to assault the teen, even though he is only asking questions.
Another video shows an officer pushing the same teenager backwards, slamming him into the door of the bowling alley before taking him down with other officers.
Once on the ground, another video captures two officers restraining the teen from behind while one officer punches him in the face multiple times.
According to interim Police Chief Scott Morgan, an investigation has been initiated and one officer has been put on paid administrative leave and another two have been pulled from patrol duties.
According to Lafayette police spokesperson, the teen beaten in the video was arrested for interference, resisting arrest, and battery of a police officer.
However, videos captured by bystanders depict officers as the initiators and aggressors in the altercation.
Lafayette Police made national headlines last month when they shot and killed Trayford Pellerin after responding to reports of a disturbance involving a man with a knife. The shooting was captured on video and has resulted in ongoing protests in Lafayette and other states.
Ronald Haley, one of the lawyer’s representing Trayford Pellerin is representing the twin claiming police have targeted them multiple times over the past several months.
“They’re not threats. They are children.” said Haley in a press conference this Monday in front of the Lafayette Police Station. “They are children, morally, and they are children in the eye of the law, and they should be protected as such.”
