A Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office deputy has become the subject of an Internal Affairs investigation after footage emerged showing the officer punching and kicking a suspect during an arrest in Harvey. The video, shared by TMZ, captures a physical altercation at an intersection on Thursday evening. JPSO spokesperson Capt. Jason Rivarde confirmed the inquiry, aiming to determine whether disciplinary action should be taken, according to NOLA.com.
The confrontation reportedly began when a female deputy made contact with the man, identified as Le Chau, and tried to take him into custody. Chau is said to have resisted, sparking a physical encounter where, as deputies state, he grabbed the deputy by her hair, leading to both falling to the ground. This detail was obtained from WDSU.com.
Additional information obtained by WWLTV from body camera footage shows Chau with his arm around the deputy's head. In a statement, Sheriff Joe Lopinto said, "struck Chau in the head multiple times in an attempt to stop his attack on the female deputy. These strikes were able to stop Chau's aggression." The suspect was later hospitalized and booked on multiple charges.
JPSO has emphasized that the incident will be thoroughly investigated to decide whether the deputy's actions were within department policy. They have yet to to publicly release the findings. The video's circulation and the subsequent investigation come amid ongoing discussions around the use of force by law enforcement officers. JPSO will release a conclusion once the investigation into the Harvey confrontation has been completed.
