LAFAYETTE, LA— A 29-year-old former Iberia Sheriff’s deputy admitted to striking a handcuffed man while the suspect was on the ground.
Cody Laperouse, 29, of New Iberia, La., pleaded guilty to a one-count bill of information charging a violation of an individual’s civil rights by use of excessive force.
Laperouse faces up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. A sentencing date was not set.
Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal fired Laperouse after the incident and asked the FBI to investigate the case, which led to the federal charge, according to a report by The Advocate in Baton Rouge
Laperouse now works for the St. Martinville Police Department, The Advocate reported.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Laperouse, while acting as a deputy of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office on September 29, 2013, struck Christopher Butler who was under arrest and on the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back.
Laperouse was one of several officers tasked with dispersing a large crowd around 1:40 a.m. that had gathered after the close of the Sugar Cane Festival in New Iberia.
The crowd was asked to disperse, and the victim was arrested during this time. The victim was instructed to lie flat on the ground in a face-down position, but instead remained on his side and did not comply with the instructions.
Laperouse struck the victim twice, using excessive force.
“Law enforcement officers play a critical role in our society and every day put their lives on the line to serve our citizens,” said Stephanie A. Finley. “They are the unsung heroes who take an oath to follow the law and to keep us safe. Unfortunately, Mr. Laperouse breached that trust and violated his oath by using excessive force on a member of our community.”
The Iberia Sheriff’s Office faces two other excessive force lawsuits in federal court over the incident: one from Butler’s brother-in-law, David Hardin, and the other from Aundrea L. Moore, who alleges Laperouse slammed her to the ground after she saw Butler in custody and approached to ask if she could call his family, The Advocate reported.
The FBI and Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs Division conducted the investigation.