Louisiana policeman indicted in racially charged Taser manslaughter case
Guardian, UK

Ruling in a racially explosive case that some forensic experts have described as police torture, a grand jury in the small Louisiana town of Winnfield indicted a white police officer yesterday on charges of manslaughter and official malfeasance for repeatedly shocking a handcuffed black suspect with a Taser device, resulting in the man's death due to cardiac arrest.

After two days of closed testimony, Winn Parish district attorney Chris Nevils announced that the grand jury had indicted Scott Nugent, 21, for the death last January of Baron "Scooter" Pikes, 21, while in police custody. Two other Winnfield police officers who were present during the incident were not charged.

Nugent, who was fired from the police force in May, could face up to 45 years in prison if convicted on the charges. He surrendered to sheriff's deputies immediately after the indictment was issued, a spokesman for Nevils said, and a $45,000 bond was set.

"It is our intention to show at trial that Mr Nugent caused the death of Baron Pikes by 'Tasing' him multiple times, unnecessarily and in violation of Louisiana law, and by failing to get him medical attention when it was apparent he needed it," Nevils said in a statement. "In a civilised society, abuse by those who are given great authority cannot be tolerated."

Pikes, wanted on a drug possession warrant, was apprehended and handcuffed January 17 after a foot chase. Although Nugent's police report stated that Pikes did not resist after being handcuffed, the officer administered nine 50,000-volt Taser shocks to Pikes' body after he was slow to respond to Nugent's order to stand up.

Winnfield police claimed that Pikes told them during the incident that he suffered from asthma and was high on PCP and crack cocaine. But Winn Parish Coroner Dr Randolph Williams found no evidence of drugs or disease in Pikes' system. He ruled the death a homicide and noted that Pikes was unconscious when the last two Taser shocks were administered.

Both Williams and Dr Michael Baden, a nationally prominent forensic pathologist who reviewed the case, said the incident "could be considered to be torture".

The Pikes case aroused fears of a cover-up among family members and civil rights groups because Winnfield, the birthplace of Louisiana governors Huey and Earl Long, has a long history of political corruption.

Remember; the cops are our FRIENDS!

Yea right... Most cops out there are big dumb bullies with inferiority complexes and badges!

We're getting ready to hang this one in Phoenix for killing his dog. What an IDIOT!
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/08/12/20080812cr-lovejoy0813.html

As far as the street cops go, my belief is that I don't need them and don't want them. They don't serve any function useful to me besides writing the reports so I can claim insurance.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

I sure hope that the victems family get paid a handsome settlement, it would also be nice to see the murderer go to the pen.

They certianly are out of hand with these tasers. I think they shouldn't have them, they seem all to eager to use them since the are "less than leathal".

I have no use for cops.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Oh man, power doth corrupt . . . . over and over again.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Good thing they had an uncorrupted coroner. I don't know what the policy is in other states, but in Louisiana is the sheriff is unable to serve the coroner becomes the sheriff. Also, the coroner is vested with a lot of discretionary power concerning mental competency. The combination of a crooked sheriff & a crooked coroner & a crooked DA would be the best way to undermine local government. That town was damned lucky.

B

My late father who was the assistant commissioner of police in Delhi always said, its the bullies who don't have the balls to become real life criminals that go out and become cops, maybe he had a valid point there.

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2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

That observation from your father rings so true...so true.

POLICE. The last 4 letters are LICE. Are they a welcome thing?

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Anecdotal, but the three biggest loser, druggie, "tough guys" in my HS became town cops..... I knew them pretty well since I did the musclecar thing back then, as did they but I was lucky enough to be an athlete also and not get caught up in their crap. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
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I hope they HANG this ********* cop for killing his dog in a hot truck.

What that poor animal must have gone through before it died...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/06/police.dog/?iref=newssearch

Interesting, a coroner being one of the last lines of defense. Makes sense actually as he's in a position to ferret out false reports, listed cause of death, etc.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Why do they take it out on these poor hapless animals? Man is really a deviant species, no doubt about that.

"I am certain Sgt. Lovejoy has suffered greatly from leaving his police dog in a sweltering car," Sheriff Joe Arpaio said in a statement. "I do not relish the idea of compounding his sadness. However, Lovejoy must be treated like anyone else in similar circumstances."

I can see his heart is bleeding out.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

How else can they feel that they are powerful without tangling with something that could overpower them?

I would like to see that.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow