This case challenges biased policing practices of Louisiana’s St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, including the humiliating practice of unnecessary, suspicion-less and nonconsensual frisks that Black men are subjected to in intimidating and unjustified traffic stops.

On the night of January 13, 2023, Mr. Bruce Washington, a 55-year-old Black man and resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana, was ordered to pull over on Highway 121, a low-trafficked and poorly lit road, by officers of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. The officers unlawfully extended the stop for an alleged traffic offense, for which Mr. Washington did not even receive a citation, by unconstitutionally harassing, intimidating, questioning, and searching Mr. Washington, his possessions, and his vehicle—all while holding his driver’s license hostage and telling him he was not free to go.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office culture of racially discriminatory policing is well documented. In 2010, In 2010, the St. Tammany Sheriff ranted to a local news reporter on camera, “If you’re [gonna] walk the streets of St. Tammany Parish with dreadlocks and chee wee hairstyles, then you can expect to be getting a visit from a sheriff’s deputy.” In 2014, several high-ranking detectives were exposed for exchanging racist emails amongst each other in which they referred to Black people as “monkey[s]” and “animals.” And from January 1, 2023 to November 29, 2023 in St. Tammany Parish, Black people were 250% (3.5 times) more likely to be stopped for alleged traffic violations than white people.

What is the legal argument in this case?

The U.S Constitution’s Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments protect people from unreasonable searches and seizures and entitle them to equal protection of the law from state law enforcement.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office violates these constitutional protections through its policy and practice of stopping Black people without probable cause of commission of a crime and searching them without a warrant or reasonable suspicion of contraband or a weapon.

What is the status of this case?

Pending before the district court of the Eastern District of Louisiana.

October 10, 2024

September 20, 2024