Trooper Jacob Brown, 30, was involved in a use of force incident in May 2019, according to Lt. Nick Manale, State Police spokesperson. State Police launched an investigation after officials received notice of a civil lawsuit in October of this year that alleged excessive force by an unnamed trooper.
When investigators learned Brown was involved in the incident and had assisted the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office in the arrest, they started an administrative investigation, Manale said. However, during the internal affairs inquiry, officials suspended the administrative investigation and began a criminal investigation.
“Detectives learned that Brown engaged in excessive and unjustifiable actions during the incident and failed to report the use of force to his supervisors,” Manale said.
A warrant was issued and Brown was taken into custody without incident Thursday afternoon. He was booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center on one count each of aggravated second-degree battery and malfeasance in office, with his bond set at $35,000. He later was released, according to a corrections employee at the facility.
Brown is a trooper stationed at Troop F in Monroe and remains on administrative leave.
Calls made on Thursday to a public number listed for Brown were not immediately returned.
Manale would not give details of that May 2019 encounter, citing the ongoing criminal and civil proceedings and the pending administrative investigation.
Court records show the excessive force and police misconduct lawsuit referencing the May 30, 2019 incident was filed this September by Aaron Larry Bowman, a 45-year-old Black man. Bowman alleges he was “dragged to the ground and beaten senselessly by certain officers,” according to a press release from his attorney.
Officers with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Special Crimes Apprehension Team (SCAT) assaulted Bowman outside his home during a drugs and weapons search of his vehicle, the lawsuit says. SCAT is comprised of officers from various area law enforcement agencies, including State Police.
Court records say the beating caused Bowman to suffer “multiple lacerations,” which include “a cut to the top of his head, a fractured arm, and broken ribs.” Officers were unable to find illegal drugs or weapons during the search, the lawsuit says.