Terrebonne Parish deputies fired after altercation with suspect … – WDSU New Orleans

TERREBONNE PARISH, La.

Two Terrebonne Parish deputies have been fired after a video surfaced over the weekend of the two involved in an altercation with a suspect in Dulac.

Joseph Paul Cehan III, 25, and Charles David Cook Jr., 26, were terminated and a rookie deputy was given a letter of reprimand, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office said.

The incident was reported Saturday after the Sheriff's Office received word that an 18-year-old, Christopher Lee Verdin Jr., beat his dog with a crescent wrench.

Detectives said Verdin fired two shots at the dog with a .45-caliber handgun. Verdin's mother witnessed the alleged incident and called the Sheriff's Office because she said she feared for her safety.

WDSU reporter Travers Mackel said Verdin's mother told the deputies that he was on drugs and that he hit the dog over the head before opening fire inside the home.

Verdin's arrest had a lot of people talking because of a video that was recorded. The video shows the deputy who arrested Verdin get into a verbal altercation with the suspect. The two then appear to threaten each other.

Sheriff Jerry Larpenter said the actions of the deputies in the video do not "reflect the attitude, training and professionalism of our office." He said the two officers were fired for violating the Sheriff's Office's policy of "conduct unbecoming of a police officer."

Verdin was booked on charges of illegal use of a weapon, illegal carrying of a weapon and aggravated cruelty to animals. He was taken to the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Center.

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WEBVTT >> THAT'S RIGHT, THESE DEPUTIESWERE FIRED IN THE LAST 90MINUTES AFTER THE SHERIFF SAYSWHAT HE SAW IN THAT VIDEO DOESNOT REFLECT THE INTEGRITY OR THEVALUES OF HIS OFFICE.IT'S A NO SECRET THE LOWERTERREBONNE PARISH TOWN OF DULAC,IS A FISHING COMMUNITY.AND AS ANDREE PARFAIT CAMEASHORE WITH HER BOAT, SHE HADALREADY HEARD THE NEWS.KIND OF SURPRISING, I JUSTHOPE THEY CAN DO WHAT NEEDS TOBE DONE TO NOT BE SO ENFORCING.TRAVERS: SHE'S REFERRING TO THISVIDEO OF AN INCIDENT THATHAPPENED SATURDAY RIGHT ACROSSTHE HIGHWAY FROM WHERE SHE DOCKSHER BOAT.WHILE ARRESTING AN ARMED TEENAGESUSPECT, WHO WAS HANDCUFFED, ATERREBONNE PARISH SHERIFF'SDEPUTY IS SEEN AND HEARD ON CELLPHONE VIDEO CURSING AT THESUSPECT.THE DEPUTY AND SUSPECT WERE EVENHEARD THREATENING EACH OTHER.>> THEY SHOULD HAVE JUST PUT HIMIN THE CAR AND TAKEN TO JAIL, ALOT OF TIMES THEY BRING THEM TOTHE LOCAL HOSPITAL SAID THEY CANCALM THEM DOWN.TRAVERS: THE SHERIFF FIRED BOTHTHE DEPUTIES INVOLVED.THEY ARE IDENTIFIED AS JOSEOHCEHAN III AND CHARLES COOKJUNIOR.CEHAN IS 25 AND HAS BEEN ON THEJOB SINCE 2014, COOK 26, ANDJOINED IN 2013.IN A BRIEF STATEMENT THE SHERIFF, SAYS THE DEPUTIES ACTIONS DONOT REFLECT THE PROFESSIONALISMAND TRAINING OF OTHERS IN HISDEPARTMENT.>> I KNOW HE WAS DOING HIS JOB,BUT IT WAS KIND OF ROUGH.HARD DECISION.TRAVERS: THE SUSPECT AND THISMATTER AGAIN, CHRISTOPHER BURTON

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