The Lafayette Police Department is calling a news report by TV station KLFY "irresponsible" and offering its own take on events depicted in a surveillance video.
The Lafayette Police Department is calling a news report by TV station KLFY "irresponsible" and offering its own take on events depicted in a surveillance video showing a pair of officers arresting a suspect outside a downtown nightclub two years ago. The grainy, nighttime video shows the officers delivering what appears to be several punches to the suspect before cuffing him and hauling him away. KLFY aired the video Tuesday night, coupling the surveillance video with a reaction by District Attorney Mike Harson, who characterized the officers' actions as "questionable" and "suspicious." The TV station further claims the case is being investigated by the FBI.
Police spokesman Cpl. Kyle Soriez, in a Wednesday afternoon press release, acknowledges that the video does show officers arresting a suspect - Morris Thomas, who was 22 at the time of the June 18, 2010 altercation and who had been accused by another man of committing a battery on him - but insists officers followed department policy for arresting suspects who violently resist.
Soriez also provides a timeline of events, from the arrest to the adjudication of Thomas' case. He pleaded guilty last August to resisting an officer and simple battery. Thomas had filed a complaint with the department, Soriez indicates, and because Thomas lives out of state Chief Jim Craft asked the FBI to investigate the case. Thomas never pursued his complaint against the P.D.
"A review of the video did not show a violation of LPD policy," Soriez writes, concluding that KLFY implying "this matter was not properly handled by LPD is incorrect and irresponsible."
See that KLFY report here.