NEW IBERIA — The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the FBI is investigating alleged brutality by at least one deputy on Hopkins Street in September.
The deputy, who has not been identified by the department, was terminated earlier this month after he was videotaped allegedly hitting a handcuffed man who was sitting on the ground and leaning against a police car. The video, which was promptly posted on YouTube, was filmed as authorities attempted to clear Hopkins Street in New Iberia’s West End on a Saturday night during the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival and Fair weekend.
“Sheriff (Louis) Ackal has asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate any possible criminal matters involving the incident,” Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Ryan Turner told The Daily Advertiser in an email on Monday.
Two civil suits were filed this month against the department for damages affiliated with the alleged misconduct. The mother of 17-year-old Ladaedrea Moore, who was arrested that night on charges including inciting a riot and resisting arrest, filed a lawsuit on her daughter’s behalf.
The video appears to show the teen being slammed to the ground by another deputy.
The civil suit names the sheriff’s office, Ackal, and deputies Cody Laperouse, Grant August, David Prejean and Trevor Picard.
Another suit filed by Charles and Emma Lewis names the same defendants along with deputy Damien Hebert and Sgt. Zachary Shaubert.
On Monday, the Rev. Raymond Brown, self-described civil rights activist and president of New Orleans group National Action Now held a brief conference at the steps of New Iberia City Hall to address his concern that Mayor Hilda Curry has done little to alleviate tension caused by local law enforcement specifically in the black community.
“She (Curry) is the top administrator of this city,” Brown said. “This is her city, and she should be concerned about her citizens being attacked in the streets where there is crime being committed by civilians or by the police.”
Curry said she agreed to hold a meeting with Brown and New Iberia Councilwoman Peggy Gerac but canceled the meeting after Brown sent a press release.
“He did request a meeting with me, and I agreed to the meeting because it just supposed to be Mrs. Gerac, myself and Mr. Brown,” Curry said Monday evening. “Then next thing I knew, he had put it out as a press release. So I canceled the meeting because that was not my agreement. My agreement was that we would have a meeting just the three of us to discuss whatever he has on his agenda.”
Brown has called for 16th Judicial District Attorney Phil Haney to indict the terminated deputy on criminal charges.