A Grambling State University reserve officer is now facing felony counts after state troopers say he used his badge to squeeze an elderly person into a cut-rate sale. Martin Reed, 50, surrendered to authorities on April 30 and was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on two counts of abuse of office and one count of exploitation of an elderly person.
According to KNOE, Grambling State University Police opened an internal investigation on April 13 after a traffic stop raised red flags. That inquiry led the campus department to call in the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations in Monroe. Detectives then developed evidence they believe shows Reed used his authority to pressure an older resident into selling items at a “significantly” reduced price.
In a Region 3 news release posted by the Louisiana State Police, investigators said detectives secured an arrest warrant from the 3rd Judicial District Court charging Reed with two counts of abuse of office and one count of exploitation of an elderly person. The release notes that Reed later surrendered and was taken into custody without incident. Louisiana State Police will serve as the lead investigating agency, and officials said the probe remains active with no additional details being released so far.
Charges and State Law
Under Louisiana law, both charges pack real legal weight. The abuse-of-office statute makes it a crime for a public official to use the power of the job to coerce someone into providing goods or services. The exploitation statute targets schemes that take advantage of elderly or infirm people. The Louisiana Legislature’s statutory text says penalties can include fines, imprisonment and restitution, with the statutes providing the full language and penalty ranges, according to the Louisiana Legislature.
University Response and Next Steps
GSUPD Chief Rodney Demery said the department is committed to keeping the campus community safe and that allegations of officer misconduct are thoroughly investigated, KNOE reported. State troopers said they will continue to lead the investigation and encouraged anyone with information to come forward. So far, no other arrests have been announced.
Members of the public with tips are urged to contact the Louisiana State Police directly or use the agency’s online reporting system. The state also operates a Fusion Center hotline at 1-800-434-8007 for anonymous tips. Reporting instructions and contact numbers are listed in public releases from the Louisiana State Police.
Handing officer-related cases to an outside agency like Louisiana State Police is standard procedure to avoid conflicts of interest. In recent months, LSP has investigated other local officers as well, resulting in additional arrests, including a Springhill officer case covered by the Minden Press-Herald. Any prosecution in Reed’s case would fall to the appropriate district attorney’s office and court, and officials say more information will be released as the investigation moves forward and any filings are made.
