MANSFIELD, La. — A strip search at the DeSoto Parish Detention Center resulted in a brutal beating for Jarius Brown, leaving him with a broken nose and fractured eye socket. Graphic footage, recently released as part of Brown's civil lawsuit, shows two sheriff's deputies attacking the 25-year-old after arresting him for theft. Despite the brutal nature of the incident, the Louisiana State Police initially cleared the deputies, characterizing Brown as the aggressor. However, an internal investigation by the sheriff’s office condemned their actions, citing no defensible reasoning for the excessive force used.
Federal prosecutors later intervened, contradicting state authorities by determining that Brown was a victim of police brutality. Mr. Brown, now 32, has since declined to comment through his attorneys as the case evolves in court. Critics of the state police's decision cite it as symptomatic of a systemic issue within law enforcement, particularly in small rural communities where accountability mechanisms may fail individuals.
Compounding matters, the deputies were charged with multiple crimes, including falsification of reports related to the assault. The state's investigation, plagued by delays and lack of transparency, has raised widespread concerns among civil rights advocates about police oversight and community safety.
Experts in use of force have reviewed the footage and affirmed that Brown posed no real threat to the deputies. The ongoing civil suit seeks to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions, reflecting a troubling broader pattern of conduct by law enforcement in Louisiana.
Federal prosecutors later intervened, contradicting state authorities by determining that Brown was a victim of police brutality. Mr. Brown, now 32, has since declined to comment through his attorneys as the case evolves in court. Critics of the state police's decision cite it as symptomatic of a systemic issue within law enforcement, particularly in small rural communities where accountability mechanisms may fail individuals.
Compounding matters, the deputies were charged with multiple crimes, including falsification of reports related to the assault. The state's investigation, plagued by delays and lack of transparency, has raised widespread concerns among civil rights advocates about police oversight and community safety.
Experts in use of force have reviewed the footage and affirmed that Brown posed no real threat to the deputies. The ongoing civil suit seeks to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions, reflecting a troubling broader pattern of conduct by law enforcement in Louisiana.
