WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Police chief claims jailers held his officers

Police chief claims jailers held his officers

By Cheryl Mercedes - bio | email

ADDIS, LA (WAFB) - The chief of police in Addis is demanding an apology from West Baton Rouge Parish jailers because he claims two of his officers were held there against their will, while the three suspects they wanted locked up were only given tickets and allowed to walk free.

Chief Ricky Anderson said back in June, two of his officers tried to arrest three men on possession and intent to distribute marijuana to a juvenile and excessive noise charges, but when they got to the jail, Anderson said the deputies would not book them. He said he is frustrated with what he calls the politics going on under the roof of the West Baton Rouge Parish jail.

Surveillance video obtained from West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Mike Cazes showed the two Addis police officers and one of the suspects in the booking area of the jail on June 26th. "We arrested three, had paperwork filled out, and someone decided not to book or put them in the AFIS system," said Chief Anderson. He said he insisted the suspect be booked because there was a warrant out for him for failure to appear in court. "I told him we want that bond money like everyone else," the chief explained. "If he doesn't appear for court somewhere else, how do we know he won't appear in Addis when he doesn't live in the parish?"

Chief Anderson said the parish jailers, who work under Sheriff Cazes, would not accept the booking slip from his Addis officers and would not let them leave until they issued the suspect a misdemeanor summons. "They disrespected me, my officers, and the residents of Addis by not letting those officers out of jail. If something would have happened, I would have had one man working." Anderson added his men were released only after the assistant warden showed up 30 minutes later and the officers issued tickets. "Mike Cazes is trying to tell us who we can and cannot arrest and he does not have that authority or power," said Anderson.

West Baton Rouge Parish sent a memo out to all law enforcement agencies back in April, asking them to issue summons on virtually all misdemeanors. Sheriff Cazes said it's all a matter of space. "We were over three people at the same time," said Cazes. "I told him I would not accept any misdemeanor persons." He added the Addis officers were never detained. "You got a button. If they wanted to get out, you press the button and it releases," he explained. Cazes also said the safety of the people of Addis was never in jeopardy and the allegations Anderson has made against his deputies are a waste of time and taxpayer money. "Anderson can complain to anyone he wants, but the results will be the same. There was no violation of anyone's rights."

Anderson said he won't stop until his policemen get an apology and disciplinary action is taken against the three parish deputies. FBI documents showed the bureau refused to investigate this case because it was not a federal issue. Chief Anderson said he will next go to Louisiana State Police and if that doesn't work, he will try the Office of the Louisiana Attorney General.

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