An officer of the New Orleans Police Department has found himself on the wrong side of the law after an altercation at a Central Business District bar. NOPD Officer Darien Crochet was arrested and is facing a second-degree battery charge, as confirmed by the police department.
The incident occurred at the Apres Lounge on Fulton Street, court records indicate and during the confrontation, Crochet allegedly punched a woman, rendering her unconscious, the egregiousness of the act compounded by his role as an officer meant to protect and serve, this according to NOLA.com. Crochet's bond was subsequently set at $7,500, and he has been barred from contacting the victim or any of the Apres Lounge's customers or employees.
In the aftermath of the incident, the NOPD said in a statement that "Officer Crochet has been reassigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of both a criminal and internal investigation." This was echoed by WDSU, which also noted Crochet has been placed on desk duty pending the results of the investigation; the NOPD has yet to release further details relating to the circumstances that precipitated the alleged battery.
The Public Integrity Bureau of NOPD is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident, shaping the narrative around the responsibilities of an officer and the trust placed in those sworn to uphold the law, they are tasked with not just enforcing law but embodying the principles behind it. "The New Orleans Police Department’s Public Integrity Bureau has arrested Officer Darien Crochet on charges of Second Degree Battery," the NOPD disclosed, and this piece of information came from a statement obtained by WDSU.
