Louisiana cops charged with assaulting unarmed motorists

The civil rights charges carry a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison.

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Indicted last year on state felony charges of malfeasance in office after beating two unarmed motorists, three Louisiana police officers were recently indicted on federal charges of deprivation of rights under color of law.

On January 24, 2020, Shreveport police officers reportedly attempted to pull over Chico Bell and his passenger, Damon Robinson, for seat belt violations as they were leaving a private residence. Instead of immediately stopping, Bell continued to drive while allegedly throwing several items out of the window of his Chevrolet truck.

According to a dash cam video from a Caddo Parish Sheriff’s deputy who assisted with the pursuit, Bell stopped his truck before he and Robinson placed their empty hands outside the vehicle in an attempt to surrender. Despite the fact that Bell was not resisting or fighting back, Shreveport police officers William Isenhour and D’Andre Jackson pulled Bell through the driver’s side window.

Repeatedly punching, kicking, and tasing Bell, the Shreveport cops caused him to suffer multiple injuries, including a broken orbital plate.

As Shreveport police officers restrained Robinson’s empty hands, Officer Treveion Brooks allegedly punched him in the face through the open truck window. After Robinson was taken to the ground with his hands behind his back, Officer Brooks broke his nose in several places by striking him with a flashlight.

The Caddo deputy noted that Robinson was compliant during the police encounter and offered no resistance. The Caddo deputy’s body and dash camera video confirmed his assessment.

Police officials stated that they later recovered the items thrown from Bell’s truck, including very small amounts of ecstasy, cocaine, and a stolen gun. Bell was arrested for flight from an officer, possession of Schedule I controlled dangerous substances, possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous substances, obstruction of justice, cyberstalking, and a fugitive matter, while Robinson was arrested for resisting an officer.

The District Attorney’s office dismissed all charges “due to unnecessary excessive force being used by SPD officers to make the arrest.”

In June 2020, Brooks, Isenhour, Jackson, and five other Shreveport police officers were indicted on state charges of malfeasance in office for assaulting Bell and Robinson. On Friday, Brooks, Isenhour, and Jackson were indicted on federal charges of deprivation of rights under color of law.

The civil rights charges carry a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison.

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