Photo source: North American Law Center
In what makes yet another story in years of turmoil within the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office, the Department is under investigation of improper use of force against an inmate in the Parish Jail while in custody. The video concerning that incident can be seen here.
The latest incident comes on the heels of the death of Victor White, who died while in police custody and was determined to have inflicted a deadly wound to himself with a hidden gun, all the while handcuffed with his hands behind his back.
In addition, the Sheriff's Department was named in a federal investigation concerning improper use of force during Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival celebrations in 2013. A video was taken of a deputy beating a handcuffed man following the Festival on Hopkins St. As a result of the video, the deputy was fired from the Department by Sheriff Louis Ackal.
Ackal has repeatedly said he is working to clean up the Department, but settlements with plaintiffs concerning issues with his Department and behaviors of his deputies have mounted to $1.1 million dollars.
