Four Louisiana state police officers have been arrested following an investigation into allegations of excessive force over a two-year period, the department announced Monday.
The troopers, 30-year-old Jacob Brown, 28-year-old Dakota DeMoss, 34-year-old Randall Dickerson and 26-year-old George Harper, are facing a simple battery and felony in office expenses, according to ABC News. Brown is also facing an additional charge of obstruction of justice, police said.
Brown and Dickerson’s charges stem from a July 2019 traffic stop, in which they allegedly used “ excessive and unjustified force ” in handcuffing a driver suspected of having drugs in the arrest.
In a second incident in May 2020, DeMoss, Harper and Brown reportedly used excessive force during a car chase in Franklin Parish. There, the officers would also have disabled body cameras during the chase. Police investigators say Brown falsified the use of force and arrest reports separately.
All four officers were arrested on Monday.
“The unjustified use of force by our staff is inexcusable and affects the exemplary work of our dedicated men and women in the Department of Public Safety,” Chief Inspector Colonel Lamar Davis said in a statement.
“I commend our research team for their diligence and professionalism throughout this investigation,” added Davis. “Our agency remains committed to maintaining public confidence and providing professional, fair and compassionate public security services.”