After LSU football player accused cops of harassment, BRPD denies requests to make body camera video public
BATON ROUGE - Three Baton Rouge police officers are on administrative leave after an LSU football player alleged he was 'violated' by law enforcement over the weekend.
The officers, whose names were not released, are on paid leave after the incident involving freshman wide receiver Koy Moore early Sunday morning. The student-athlete took to social media, where he put out a statement alleging officers drew their guns on him and aggressively searched him for drugs and a weapon without reason.
Moore added that he was eventually let go after telling officers he was an LSU football player.
Just read this please we need a change!!! pic.twitter.com/EyiK0Rmx1r
— Koy Moore ???? ???????? (@asap_koy) November 8, 2020
BRPD says it is working with LSU to investigate the incident.
The Baton Rouge Police Department released the following statement Monday.
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On Sunday November 8, 2020, Baton Rouge Police Department was made aware of a citizen complaint posted online by LSU football player Koy Moore. Chief Paul made contact with an LSU Official and spoke with Koy concerning the complaint. Chief Paul initiated an Internal Affairs investigation into this matter. The three officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave while the incident is under investigation.
Chief Paul states, “We appreciate Mr. Moore bringing this incident to our attention. As in every case, we will be collecting all available evidence and conducting interviews. Accountability and transparency are critical in building trust with the community. I pledge a thorough investigation into this complaint.”
Earlier Monday morning, Coach Orgeron shared his thoughts on the incident. Orgeron said while he cannot comment on details surrounding the situation, he feels that the community needs to come together to combat social injustice and racism to create a safer society.
My thoughts on Koy Moore’s situation pic.twitter.com/Cqt7d4Vv1a
— Coach Ed Orgeron (@Coach_EdOrgeron) November 9, 2020
LSU acknowledged Moore's claims and its support of Coach Ed Orgeron's statement.
The university has been made aware of an incident involving student athlete Koy Moore. Both LSU and Baton Rouge Police are investigating the incident, and we echo the sentiment shared by Coach Ed Orgeron: https://t.co/TVZtpNtlhu
— LSU (@LSU) November 9, 2020
LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward also released a statement addressing the incident Monday afternoon.
"The safety and well-being of our student-athletes is our most important responsibility, and the details described by Koy Moore of his encounter with Baton Rouge Police on Saturday night are very troubling. We have engaged with Koy and his family, and the appropriate LSU officials are working with BRPD to help gather all of the facts of the incident. We have full faith BRPD will conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter. We will continue to dedicate every available resource to supporting Koy and all other LSU student-athletes who are understandably upset. Black Americans should never be treated unjustly by law enforcement, and we will continue to do our part to help change systemic racism in America."
Legal advisors for Baton Rouge Police said the department will not release body camera video of the incident, citing it as an ongoing investigation.
In response to a Sunday night public records request from WBRZ seeking to obtain video from any of the three officers involved, the city's legal team responded Tuesday with a denial: The video "requested... [is] not subject to disclosure at this time under Louisiana public records law...because the video footage is part of an open internal affairs case."
However, a previous email from the city suggested the department could release the video "pursuant to the BRPD Public Release of Critical Incident Recording Policy." The policy, updated in 2018, promised a new Critical Incident Recording order to consider releasing video associated with high-profile incidents within 12 days.
Police have not elaborated on if the incident involving Moore would qualify for being released under the critical incident directive.