Baton Rouge Police Sued for Alleged Abuse in Warehouse Facility
Police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, are facing a lawsuit after being accused of mistreating individuals in what has been described as a torture warehouse. The lawsuit, filed by Baton Rouge resident Ternell Brown on September 18, claims that officers drove her to an unmarked warehouse instead of the police station after she was detained in June.
According to the lawsuit, the facility, referred to as the Brave Cave by officers, was used by the street crimes unit to hold people in custody, assault them, and conduct strip and body-cavity searches. The lawsuit alleges that Ms. Brown was wrongfully informed that it was illegal to have different prescription medicines in the same pill container. She was allegedly arrested on suspicion of illegal drug activity after a legal prescription medication was found in her car during a traffic stop. Ms. Brown was then taken to the warehouse, where she claims she was subjected to a warrantless strip and body cavity search.
After a few hours, Ms. Brown was released without any charges filed against her. This incident follows a similar case involving Jeremy Lee, who was arrested in January and taken to the same warehouse facility. Mr. Lee claimed that he was severely beaten during his time at the Brave Cave and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment.
In response to the allegations, the mayor of Baton Rouge ordered the suspension of operations at the warehouse facility, and the FBI is currently investigating the claims. The chief of the Baton Rouge Police Department, Murphy Paul, acknowledged that mistakes were made and said that an internal investigation is underway.
The lawsuit filed by Ms. Brown accuses the police department of various violations, including unreasonable search and seizure, battery, assault, false imprisonment, negligence, and state constitutional violations. It also claims that the department’s strip search policy is in violation of the legal standard.
Chief Paul defended the department, stating that they have been consistent in their discipline and have terminated officers for misconduct. He mentioned that the officers involved in the street crimes unit have been placed on administrative leave, and operations have been moved to other facilities.
This case highlights the importance of addressing allegations of police misconduct and ensuring that individuals’ rights are protected. The investigation by the FBI will hopefully shed light on the truth and help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, it remains crucial for law enforcement agencies to maintain transparency, accountability, and adherence to constitutional rights to preserve public trust and confidence.
