MANSFIELD, La. (AP) — The strip search lasted just six minutes, but when it ended, Jarius Brown had a broken nose, fractured eye socket, and a badly swollen face.
Never-before-published footage shows why: Two Louisiana sheriff’s deputies pummeled the naked 25-year-old, flinging him around the DeSoto Parish Detention Center laundry room while landing a flurry of 50 punches.
In the aftermath of the 2019 assault, one deputy resigned and the other was suspended. Internal records show the sheriff’s office concluded 'there was no way of defending' the deputies’ actions.
Yet, that’s exactly what the Louisiana State Police did, according to an Associated Press investigation. After waiting months to analyze the graphic video and more than a year to interview Brown, the agency cleared the deputies of wrongdoing, supporting their claims that Brown was the 'aggressor' in the altercation that led to his arrest for car theft.
Federal prosecutors later concluded the opposite: Brown was a victim of excessive force.
The graphic footage remained under wraps for six years but emerged recently as Brown sought damages for his injuries. Now 32, Brown has not commented through his attorneys.
Gary Evans, a former DeSoto Parish district attorney, emphasized that the case underscores the safeguard the Justice Department has historically provided in smaller communities, a role now questioned due to reduced civil rights enforcement under the Trump administration.
“This was a great miscarriage of justice at the state level, showing the system is broken and failing to protect citizens,” Evans remarked. “In a community like this, the federal government is the only avenue for justice.”
Brown's case is not isolated; it follows other instances of police misconduct in DeSoto Parish, highlighting a pattern of malfeasance within local law enforcement.
While the state police investigation has been criticized for clearing the deputies, former deputies involved in similar cases faced consequences, with one pleading guilty to using excessive force and sentenced to federal prison.
Experts have scrutinized the differing findings from state and federal investigations, emphasizing that Brown's calm demeanor during the strip search did not warrant the level of violence he experienced.
The footage shows Brown entering the laundry room calmly before the deputies engaged him for not squatting adequately during the search.
Despite showing signs of severe injury, neither deputy sought medical attention for Brown post-assault. Instead, the warden ensured he received hospital care.
“I don’t know how any objective evaluator could determine this was anything but excessive,” stated Charles “Joe” Key, a former police lieutenant who reviewed the footage.
Evans characterized local officials' attempts to obtain the footage as obstructive, underlining a systemic issue regarding transparency and accountability in law enforcement.
As the Brown case progresses through appeals courts, advocates hope it will not only secure justice for Brown but also prompt broader changes within the policing system.
