I-TEAM: Attorney raises concerns after BRPD releases body cam video of client’s arrest

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Attorney Ron Haley is raising questions about the arrest of his client, Roderick Veal, that was detailed in a newly-release body camera video from the Baton Rouge Police Department. Haley says the police interaction should have never spiraled out of control and he is concerned about what he saw on the body camera video.

This body camera video shows exactly what went down between BRPD officers and Veal during his arrest around 2:30 a.m. on May 21, 2024.

RELATED: BRPD releases body cam footage, details of man’s arrest on Roosevelt Street

“Don’t reach… don’t reach. Step out of the vehicle for me,” one of the officers can be heard saying in the video.

Officers responded to shots fired along Roosevelt Street when they saw Veal asleep or passed out in a car. As they walked up to the car, the department says officers also noticed a gun on the seat next to Veal. Those officers asked him repeatedly to get out of the car before trying to pat Veal down. That’s when Veal and the officers got into a scuffle as he questions why he’s being patted down. That’s when one of the officers fires a stun gun.

”Turn around and put your hands behind your back,” the officer said. “Get down. Get down on the ground before I give you another one.”

While Veal is on the ground, officers repeatedly tell him to turn around. At one point, the department says Veal tried to get his hands on the officer’s taser. Officers repeatedly tell Veal to turn around. When he does not turn around, one of the officers threatens him.

”Bruh, you reach for my f**king taser again, I’m going to f**king shoot you. Now turn the f**k around,” the officer said. Not long after that, the officer punches Veal as they wrestle with him and tell him to turn around. ”Turn the f**k around,” said Veal.

According to police, Veal had drugs on him at the time and was taken to the hospital to be checked out. He was charged with resisting, disarming a police officer and, as a felon, in possession of a gun. Baton Rouge Chief TJ Morse says they are reviewing the video to see if any BRPD policies were violated.

”There are a lot of things in there that I feel is just unnecessary,” said Haley.

Haley represents Veal and says he has concerns about the encounter that start with why it happened in the first place.

”Sleeping in your car is not against the law. He is parked on the other side of the street in a residential neighborhood. Yes, by the letter of the law can the police come and investigate and see what’s going on? Of course,” said Haley. “Does that typically happen in other segments of our community? Not as much and part of the issue is the over-policing of this incident.”

Haley also questions why things escalated as quickly as they did. He says Veal calmly got out of the car and spoke with the officers but in some parts of the video, he says his client could not comply with officer commands because he was being choked, had a knee on his neck, and was pinned down.

”How are you going to turn over if somebody’s on top of you? That is very clear,” said Haley. “Sure, turn over, but how do you turn over if somebody’s on top of you, Scottie.”

Chief Morse says no official complaint has been filed about the incident but Haley says he plans to file a complaint soon.

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