CNN
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The Shreveport, Louisiana, police officer charged within the taking pictures of an unarmed Black man earlier this month had twice been suspended from the division with out pay, information present.
Officer Alexander Tyler, 23, served a mixed 30 days on suspension in 21 months with the Shreveport Police Division, in accordance with personnel information obtained by CNN.
Tyler is at the moment on administrative go away after being charged with negligent murder within the February 3 demise of Alonzo Bagley.
Bagley, 43, was shot after Tyler and one other officer responded to a home disturbance name at an residence complicated, in accordance with Louisiana State Police, which is investigating the encounter.
When the officers arrived, Bagley jumped down from an residence balcony and fled. After a quick foot chase Tyler shot Bagley, who was later discovered to be unarmed, state police mentioned.
Investigators have launched physique digicam video and a 911 name associated to the taking pictures, which occurred lower than a month after the deadly beating of Tyre Nichols by Memphis officers throughout a visitors cease that reignited a nationwide dialog about police use of pressure in opposition to individuals of colour, significantly Black People.
Tyler’s lawyer, Dhu Thompson, instructed CNN final week he hopes the video is reviewed “totally and a choice is made primarily based on info and proof.”
“Officers are all the time confronted on a day-to-day foundation with harmful conditions like that and at instances the place they must make split-second choices the place they’re in a possible life-threatening state of affairs,” Thompson mentioned.
In accordance with the personnel information, Tyler joined the Shreveport Police Division in Could 2021. The paperwork comprise redactions of some private info, and 4 pages of data that was totally redacted. In complete, the division launched greater than 450 pages of paperwork, video and audio recordings to CNN as a part of an open information request.
His two suspensions occurred in November 2022 and December 2022, the information present.
The November suspension was for conduct that’s unbecoming throughout an incident that occurred in September 2022, in accordance with the information. Tyler was suspended with out pay for 15 days. The file didn’t elaborate additional.
He was once more suspended for 15 days in December, however the information didn’t point out the explanation.
Previous to the suspensions, in February 2022, a “personnel motion discover” was issued, and Tyler was transferred to a brand new space of patrol and shift. The paperwork don’t say what prompted the motion.
He obtained a letter of commendation from the division in April 2022 for his work on a photographs fired name that led to a drug bust, the paperwork present.
A efficiency assessment from June 2022 mentioned Tyler “shows logic,” “has passable contacts with the general public,” and famous that he “tactically performs properly underneath stress and has been actively taking steps to enhance his communication expertise underneath stress and has certainly improved in that space.”
Shreveport Police Inside Affairs later opened an investigation into Tyler after receiving a grievance alleging that, on July 23, 2022, he violated division coverage associated to automobile pursuits and operation of in-car cameras, in addition to state regulation associated to hurry limits throughout a pursuit.
The investigation report says Tyler drove as much as 114 mph earlier than activating his lights and sirens. He then elevated his pace to 132 mph for 3 minutes, along with his lights and sirens on whereas trying to tug over a automobile for a “modified exhaust,” the report says.
The investigation sergeant mentioned Tyler was driving between 60 to 70 mph over the posted pace restrict. Throughout an interview with Inside Affairs, Tyler mentioned his speeds have been “extreme” and took accountability for his actions, in accordance with the paperwork.
A letter of reprimand was issued in October 2022 and Tyler was required to take a defensive driving course and experience with a sergeant for per week, information present.
Talking final week after expenses in opposition to Tyler have been introduced, Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith mentioned, “Disciplinary sensible I might not say he has been a disciplinary concern, or a minimum of to not the purpose the place issues would rise on our radar. We do have a process in place referred to as an early warning system when an officer will get so many incidents, that’s delivered to our consideration. His historical past with our division had not reached the extent the place the early warning system would have picked it up and introduced him in entrance of our radar.”
When requested by CNN if Tyler had beforehand been cited for violence in direction of a suspect the chief mentioned, “To my information just one, I consider, I wouldn’t maintain me to intently, however just one involves thoughts at this level.” It’s unclear what incident the chief was referring to and he didn’t elaborate.
The personnel information present Tyler had no earlier regulation enforcement expertise within the state of Louisiana and had not served within the navy earlier than becoming a member of the Shreveport Police Division. His highest stage of schooling was highschool in accordance with his information.
Bagley’s household has filed a federal lawsuit in opposition to Tyler, looking for greater than $10 million in damages. The lawsuit alleges that the officer violated Bagley’s Fourth Modification rights.