4 Baton Rouge police officers accused of covering up beating, deleting video plead not guilty
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — A Baton Rouge Police officer accused of beating a man and three others accused of helping covering up the battery, including deleting surveillance video, pleaded not guilty to each of their charges on Thursday, Aug. 15.
Baton Rouge Police officers Troy Lawrence Sr., Douglas Chutz, Todd Thomas and Martele Jackson pleaded not guilty to their charges, according to East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore. All four are on administrative leave.
The four were arrested in September 2023 and were indicted on June 25. According to court documents, Thomas is accused of committing battery on Charles Brown while he was in police custody on or around Sept. 28, 2020.
Moore said the incident did not happen at the Brave Cave.
Lawrence, Chutz and Jackson face charges related to an alleged coverup that included getting rid of evidence and not reporting the incident.
Thomas faces charges of obstruction of justice, two counts of criminal conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and three counts of malfeasance in office.
Police take man into custody after car crashes into church in Baton Rouge, causes fire
Lawrence was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and four counts of malfeasance in office.
Chutz was charged with obstruction of justice, criminal conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and two counts of malfeasance in office.
Jackson was charged with obstruction of justice and malfeasance in office.
Jesse Barcelona was another Baton Rouge police officer who was arrested in 2020 but was later not indicted by the grand jury.
Latest News
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.