SCOTT, La. (KADN) — A nationally-known civil rights attorney said newly-released video from Scott raises questions about police brutality in Louisiana.
The attorney representing the man said Scott police put him in an illegal chokehold. The video shows a Scott police officer allegedly using an illegal type of chokehold on an unarmed Black man at the Scott Boudin Festival.
Attorneys claim Lt. Brun Lavergne used what's called a carotid hold on Anthony Wayne Babino Jr. near the festival on Saturday, April 6. A carotid hold is defined as when the two main arteries that carry blood to the head and neck are restricted.
National civil rights attorneys are claiming cell phone video shows a Scott police officer choking a Black man just outside the Scott Boudin Festival.
That type of hold is banned in the state of Louisiana, unless a police officer believes they or another person is at risk of harm.
Attorneys claim Babino was in clear physical distress and on the verge of passing out from a loss of blood circulation to his brain. They also claim he was simply waiting outside of the fairgrounds for a friend to bring him money to get into the festival.
"The insult to injury to this is that this guy is a training officer," said attorney Harry M. Daniels. "He's a lieutenant, he's an officer, he's over the division, and he's responsible for the training of the officers. If he is in fact engaging in these matters - and this is not a one-off event - you can imagine how he's training the subordinates under him and what type of product is on the street in the city of Scott."
Scott Police Chief Chad Leger said he has no comment on the video and an investigation will begin Monday, April 15.
