Denham Springs cop accused of carnal knowledge in custody in La. after arrest in Texas

UPDATE:

LIVINGSTON, La. (WAFB) - A Denham Springs police officer accused of an inappropriate relationship with a female minor was sent back to Louisiana on Wednesday, Sept. 7.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office reported Joseph Reid Copeland is being processed into the Livingston Parish Detention Center.

ORIGINAL:

Joseph Reid Copeland waived his right to an extradition hearing in Texas on Sept. 1. He will now be transported to Louisiana to face criminal charges.

He was taken into custody in Irving, Texas earlier this week. He is expected to be transported to Livingston Parish sometime next week, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Lori Steele said.

The Louisiana State Police Fugitive Task Force and Irving Police Department Fugitive Unit tracked down Copeland after he fled the state.

Denham Springs Police Chief Rodney Walker said the allegations made against Copeland resulted in the opening of an internal affairs investigation. Copeland then resigned.

Walker said the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office was contacted to conduct a criminal investigation, which led to the warrant being issued for Copeland’s arrest.

Copeland is wanted on charges of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile and malfeasance in office.

“While this is still an ongoing investigation, we can tell you that the Denham Springs Police Chief asked us to look into an incident that occurred around the 19th of August 2022,” Sheriff Jason Ard earlier this week. “Through our investigation, warrants were issued for Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile and Malfeasance in Office for Joseph Reid Copeland.”

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