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Investigators seize phone records tied to corruption case involving BRPD supervisor

5 months 2 weeks 5 days ago Thursday, November 09 2023 Nov 9, 2023 November 09, 2023 3:46 PM November 09, 2023 in News
Source: WBRZ

BATON ROUGE - Detectives conducting an internal investigation into allegations of a cover-up involving one of BRPD's highest ranking officers have obtained phone records that could further implicate him in the case. 

New documents filed this week and obtained by the WBRZ Investigative Unit show that investigators were seeking calls and texts between Chief Deputy Troy Lawrence Sr. and officer Martele Jackson. Lawrence was the commander of the now-defunct Street Crimes Unit at the time of the incident. Ryan Thompson, the attorney who filed the lawsuit for the Brave Cave says this shows a pattern of abuse within BRPD

"If this is the same street crimes unit, the same actors, that says there is a high likelihood of notice," Thompson said."It also shows  there is a pattern or custom withing the Baton Rouge Police Department within the street crimes unit," Thompson continued.

Documents say Jackson was present when a suspect was threatened with a taser and beaten for refusing to comply with a strip search at a BRPD station along Plank Road on Sept. 28, 2020. The incident, which was only recently exposed to the public, was reportedly captured on Jackson's body camera. 

The documents allege Jackson's body camera was taken by the officer who attacked the arrestee in an effort to hide evidence of what happened. WBRZ previously reported that Lawrence, the supervisor accused of orchestrating the cover-up, was among four arrested back in September.

The phone records now being sought by police allegedly include conversations that took place within days of the incident between Jackson and Lawrence, who reportedly assured the officer that he will "be okay and taken care of."

"It adds more credibility and weight to what we have been saying. Yes this is definitely a pattern and practice, and yes this is just a long line of allegations that are now supported," Thompson said.

Lawrence is also the father of ousted BRPD officer Troy Lawrence Jr., who was the subject of multiple lawsuits stemming from alleged misconduct on the job.

As of Thursday, it does not appear officer Jackson is facing criminal charges. 

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