WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |WBR Sheriff sues Addis Police Chief

WBR Sheriff sues Addis Police Chief

By Cheryl Mercedes - bio | email

PORT ALLEN, LA (WAFB) - West Baton Rouge Sheriff Mike Cazes is taking Addis Police Chief Ricky Anderson to court. The fued between the two started back in June, when Anderson says his officers were not allowed to book a suspect in the West Baton Rouge Detention Center. Anderson accused the sheriff of "malfeasance in office." Sheriff Cazes has hired an attorney in hopes of putting an end to the war.

Addis Police Chief Ricky Anderson has been voicing his frustrations with the operations at the West Baton Rouge Detention Center for about three months. Anderson wanted to book a suspect on traffic charges and as a fugitive.  But, the sheriff sent out a memo in April, asking all law enforcement agencies to issue summons on misdemeanors because his jail was full. "Mike Cazes is trying to tell us who we can and cannot arrest, and he does not have that authority nor power," said Anderson.

Anderson began voicing his disapproval through the local newspaper. He said the sheriff denied him access to the surveillance video footage, and that Cazes was "trying to push it under the carpet and hope it all goes away."

Cazes' attorney, Jill Craft, calls it a campaign of defamation, libel and slander. "You cannot as a public official make irresponsible statements, and accuse another public official of committing a crime when it is patently false," said Craft.

According to the lawsuit filed by Craft in West Baton Rouge, the real issue is over some $330.00 in bond money that would go to the town of Addis. "What this boils down to are irresponsible comments, and if you trace it back it's all about the dough," said Craft.

Sheriff Cazes released the video footage and a letter to the Town of Addis on August 26th stating "If Chief Anderson continues to defame my officers and my office, I will have no choice but to consult with my legal advisor."

But, the comments in the newspaper continued, including a quote by Chief Anderson of "malfeasance in office." That's where the sheriff drew the line.

The sheriff wants Chief Anderson to retract the comments he made in the newspaper and apologize. If not, he's suing for monetary damages. Sheriff Cazes says if he were to win a lawsuit, he would donate the money to charity.

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