Louisiana police officer on leave after video shows punching juvenile during bowling alley arrest

LAFAYETTE, La. —After videos on social media showed two teenage boys being punched during an arrest, interim Lafayette Police Chief Scott Morgan announced Sunday that he placed an officer on administrative leave and removed two more from their regular duties.

In the Saturday night incident with the teens, police were called about a man with a gun at the Acadian Lanes Bowling Alley, said department spokesman Sgt. Wayne Griffin.

Officers arrested a juvenile at the bowling alley and he was charged with interfering with a police investigation, resisting arrest and battery of a police officer.

Officers did not find a gun on the scene.

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Bystander videos circulating on social media show officers slam the juvenile into a door before repeatedly punching him while he is held on the ground.

Morgan ordered an investigation into the matter, Griffin said. One officer will be placed on paid administrative leave. The other two will be temporarily "pulled from regular duty" pending additional investigative information, Griffin said.

Griffin did not say how long the three officers had been with the department.

The incident actually involved a pair of 16-year-old twins, a lawyer for the family said Monday.

The family of the arrested juvenile hired Ronald Haley, one of the lawyer's representing the family of 31-year-old Trayford Pellerin, a Black Lafayette man who was shot and killed by police on Aug. 21.

Haley said Monday at a press conference about the weekend incident that it involved two brothers who have been targeted by police. The press release from police on the incident only referenced the arrest of one juvenile.

"They're boys," Haley said. "They're not threats. They are children. They are children morally, and they are children in the eyes of the law, and they should be protected as such.

Haley said the twins involved in the confrontation with police at the bowling alley have been targeted by officers several times over the past few months, including an incident in August, one in June and another on Easter. Haley said he is seeking more information about the incidents.

Haley said he wants the police department to release information regarding the Saturday night incident if it has not been turned over to the Louisiana State Police, as well as release body camera footage from the arrest.

"I'm here today to demand answers," Haley said. "We want the 9-1-1 call in which one of the boys allegedly fit the description of someone who committed a crime. What was that description? What was he actually doing? Was that call actually made?"

The Lafayette chapter of the NAACP condemned the bowling alley incident in a statement, also referencing Pellerin's Aug. 21 shooting death.

"Once again, we are disturbed to witness excessive use of force against citizens, lack of de-escalation tactics and poor training; proving the sense of urgency for major police reform," President Marja Broussard said. "We look forward to working with the Mayor-President's administration, community leaders, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to ensure these things do not happen again. This must stop."

Leaders of Lafayette's recent protests over Pellerin's death also said they — along with organizations across the state — would be participating in a rally in Baton Rouge on Friday. As part of the event, protesters will deliver a formal complaint on police violence to the Louisiana Attorney General's office before speaking on the front steps of the Louisiana State Capitol.

In addition to Lafayette leaders, groups including the Louisiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, the New Black Panther Party, and state and local NAACP chapters will be participating in the Baton Rouge rally.

"I know that it's in Baton Rouge, but make no mistake, what's happening in Baton Rouge is a collective effort all across the state to stand against what is happening in the city of Lafayette and all across the state as well," Devon Norman, Lafayette NAACP young adult committee chair, said.

The incident comes more than two weeks after officers shot and killed Pellerin at a north Lafayette gas station. An independent autopsy found multiple officers fired at least 17 shots, with 10 hitting Pellerin as he was reaching for the gas station door. Officers said he had a knife.

Pellerin's family, community leaders and protesters have said his death represents how officers use excessive force and are not properly trained for deescalating situations. Pellerin was shot after he walked away from officers.

Several dozen people gathered Monday afternoon across the street from the Lafayette Police Department for a demonstration after they were unable to deliver a complaint at headquarters on Labor Day. A police spokesperson said the building was closed due to the holiday.

The group set up a barbecue grill and some tables for condiments and other items as a demonstration. Attendees tossed around footballs and frisbees and danced in the street.

“People are hula-hooping and tossing frisbees,” Norman said.“Obviously since the mayor-president was so offended by a barbecue out in front of his house, we thought why not do it again in front of the police station."

Norman was referencing an incident in which police arrested a protester outside Guillory's house after she set up a grill out front on the street.

Follow Ashley White on Twitter @AshleyyDi.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana police officer on leave after video shows punching juvenile