Louisiana

Prosecutors dismiss charges against Louisiana troopers who bragged of beating a Black motorist

Published

2 years ago

February 9, 2024

Prosecutors dismiss charges against Louisiana troopers who bragged of beating a Black motorist

Louisiana prosecutors have quietly dismissed charges against state police troopers who were recorded beating a Black motorist and hoisting him to his feet by his hair braids before bragging in text messages that the “whoopin’” would give the man “nightmares for a long time.”

The violent 2020 arrest of Antonio Harris was among a series of beatings of Black men captured on body camera that prompted a sprawling U.S. Justice Department investigation into use of force by the Louisiana State Police. It came about a year after the deadly 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene in northern Louisiana, a beating that also resulted in state charges.

“The system is rigged against people like Antonio,” said Harris’ attorney, Michael T. Sterling, who first learned about the dismissals on Friday from The Associated Press, which confirmed them in an interview with the district attorney. “The record was clear that these officers senselessly and ruthlessly beat Antonio Harris and lied about it in reports. It’s hard to understand what’s going on here.”

Harris’ arrest, which followed a high-speed chase that ended next to a cornfield in rural Franklin Parish, was called “inexcusable” by state police, who determined officers used “excessive and unjustifiable force” in kneeing, slapping and punching the man after he had surrendered.

“They kept saying ‘Stop resisting’ but I was never resisting,” Harris told investigators. “As soon as they got to me, one of them kneed me in my face. One of them was squeezing my eyes.”

An internal investigation found the troopers filed “wholly untrue” reports claiming Harris kept trying to flee, refused to obey commands and fought with troopers before pummeling him with what Trooper Jacob Brown called “tactical strikes.”

The troopers later exchanged 14 text messages peppered with “lol” and “haha” responses in which they mocked Harris, who spit up blood and suffered from sore ribs and stomach pain for days after the arrest.

“He gonna be sore tomorrow for sure,” Brown wrote in one of the texts. “Warms my heart knowing we could educate that young man.”

After initially vowing to take the troopers to trial, District Attorney Penny Douciere dismissed misdemeanor charges in November against Brown and Trooper Dakota DeMoss weeks after a federal jury in Monroe acquitted Brown of a civil-rights charge in the beating of yet another Black motorist he struck 18 times with a flashlight. The dismissals also came about two weeks after prosecutors in a nearby parish dropped charges against another trooper accused of withholding graphic body-camera footage of Greene’s arrest.

Douciere did not explain why she dropped the charges but said Friday that she also plans to dismiss the prosecution of George “Kam” Harper, the third white trooper charged in Harris’ arrest.

Attorneys for the troopers did not respond to emails seeking comment. The state police fired DeMoss and Harper, while Brown resigned. They were originally arrested in February 2021 on felony charges of malfeasance in office, but Douciere decided instead to charge them with misdemeanor battery.

The chase began after Brown pulled Harris over for a minor traffic violation and discovered he had a suspended license and outstanding warrants.

Harris sped away and led troopers on a 29-mile (47-kilometer) chase that reached speeds of 150 miles (241 kph) before it was stopped with the help of a tire-puncturing spike strip. Even though Harris had already surrendered, DeMoss, the first arriving trooper, “delivered a knee strike” and slapped him in the face with an open palm before powering off his body-worn camera, court records show.

Harper, meanwhile, punched Harris in the head several times with a fist “reinforced” by a flashlight and threatened to “punish” Harris, while Brown pulled the man’s hair, an internal investigation concluded. DeMoss can later be seen on the footage lifting Harris to his feet by his braids.

Investigators determined Brown never revealed to state prosecutors that body-worn camera video of the arrest existed.

Harris’ attorney long said he was hopeful the Justice Department would bring civil-rights charges, but that didn’t happen after a federal grand jury heard evidence in the case.

The Justice Department still has not said whether it will bring charges in Greene’s death on a rural roadside outside Monroe, though federal authorities continue to investigate an attempted cover-up of his death.

Source link

Click to comment

Louisiana

State Treasurer John Fleming accuses Jeff Landry of interfering in Louisiana Senate race

Published

7 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

State Treasurer John Fleming accuses Jeff Landry of interfering in Louisiana Senate race

BATON ROUGE (KNOE) – Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming is accusing Governor Jeff Landry of interfering with the state Senate race, which Fleming is a part of.

Fleming took to social media to accuse Landry of working “behind the scenes” to get Congresswoman Julia Letlow elected to the Senate.

According to Fleming, Dr. Ralph Abraham offered him the position of Deputy Director of the CDC shortly before announcing he was stepping down. Fleming said he politely declined.

A week later, news broke that Abraham is now leading Letlow’s Senate campaign.

“We know that Jeff has been heavily lobbying the Trump campaign team for the endorsement, he is pressuring the Republican Party of Louisiana and the Republican Executive Committees to support and endorse Letlow as well,” Fleming wrote on Facebook. “And, he is personally calling his donors to raise big money to save the Letlow campaign.

Landry formally endorsed Letlow for the U.S. Senate on March 4. Letlow also has the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

“We need a warrior who stands with the President to Make America Great. And there’s no greater warrior than a Louisiana mom,” Landry wrote on Facebook.

Fleming continued his commentary, asking when Landry will stop interfering with the state’s Senate race.

“Who is best to decide who represents you in Washington? Jeff Landry, or YOU?” Fleming asked.

Also in the heated race is incumbent Bill Cassidy, M.D.

Party primary elections in Louisiana are set for May 16, 2026.

Source link

Louisiana

Louisiana Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for March 3, 2026

Published

19 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 3, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 3 drawing

07-21-53-54-62, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 3 drawing

6-8-3

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 3 drawing

3-6-7-4

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from March 3 drawing

0-8-3-2-0

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.

By mail, follow these instructions:

Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.

Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:

Louisiana Lottery Headquarters

555 Laurel Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70801

To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:

555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.

When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link

Louisiana

Brother of Louisiana mayor accused of raping 16-year-old has a hauntingly similar criminal past

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Brother of Louisiana mayor accused of raping 16-year-old has a hauntingly similar criminal past

The brother of Louisiana mayor Misty Roberts — accused of raping her son’s teenage friend — is facing child sex crimes of his own.

Brandon Lee Roberts, 39, was accused of raping a teen girl and assaulting a young woman over the course of several years, KALB reported.

Brandon Lee Roberts, 39, is accused of raping a teen girl and assaulting a young woman over the course of several years. Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office

The alleged sexual abuse began when one of the victims was as young as 13, according to Beauregard Parish Sheriff Mark Herford.

He was arrested in October.

Booking photo of Misty Clanton Roberts. — Brandon’s sister, Misty, the ex-mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, allegedly raped her son’s teenage friend. AP

That comes years after his big sister – ex-mayor of DeRidder, 43-year-old Misty Roberts – allegedly got hot and heavy with her son’s 16-year-old friend at a drunken party at their home.

Roberts was allegedly caught in the tryst by her own kids.

She was arrested months later, and is currently on trial for rape charges.

Source link