NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 13, 2008

Ex-Police Officer Indicted In Taser Death

Former Louisiana Police Officer Accused Of Repeatedly Jolting Handcuffed Man

  •  (AP / CBS)

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(AP)  A former police officer accused of repeatedly jolting a handcuffed man with a Taser before he died was indicted on a manslaughter charge Wednesday by a grand jury in central Louisiana.

The Winn Parish grand jury also indicted former Winnfield police officer Scott Nugent on a charge of malfeasance in office stemming from the Jan. 17 death of Baron Pikes, 21.

Pikes was shocked nine times with a 50,000-volt Taser as he was arrested on a drug possession warrant in January, authorities said. Winn Parish District Attorney Chris Nevils said Nugent broke the law when he "unnecessarily" used the Taser on Pikes multiple times and failed to get him medical attention "when it was apparent he needed it."

"In a civilized society, abuse by those who are given great authority cannot be tolerated," Nevils said in a statement.

Nugent, who is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 21, faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the manslaughter charge. The malfeasance charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Nugent was fired but is appealing his dismissal. Phillip Terrell, Nugent's lawyer, has said his client followed department protocols and didn't use excessive force.

After the panel's decision, Terrell said the grand jury has only heard prosecutors' side of the story. "It now comes time for us to be able to present our side of the story," he said.

Since the grand jury's decision Wednesday, Terrell said Nugent had surrendered to sheriff's deputies and was booked on the two charges. He was released from jail after posting $45,000 bond, Terrell said.

The parish's coroner, Dr. Randolph Williams, ruled in June that Pikes' death was a homicide. Williams said he consulted with two other coroners, and both agreed that Pikes died of cardiac arrest caused by the Taser shocks.

Terrell disagreed with the coroner's conclusion but said he hasn't pinpointed the cause of death. "We haven't been allowed to see the autopsies yet," he said.

Carol Powell Lexing, a lawyer for Pikes' family, called the indictments "just one step toward justice."

Anger over Pikes' death has threatened to inflame racial tensions in Winnfield, where the population of roughly 5,800 is evenly divided between black and white residents. Pikes was black; Nugent is white.

The episode also has drawn comparisons to the so-called "Jena Six" case, which thrust a neighboring city in the national spotlight.

Winnfield is about 40 miles northwest of Jena, the site of a massive civil rights protest last year. Thousands of demonstrators gathered there to protest criminal cases against six black teenagers charged with beating a white student at a high school.

State Sen. Gerald Long, a Winnfield native and third cousin of legendary former Gov. Huey Long, expressed confidence that community leaders won't allow the fallout from Pikes' death to divide the city along racial lines.

"We pray that it will not become a spectacle comparable to what took place in Jena," Long said. "Is it an explosive situation that can create a backlash? Sure, but that's not what I see."

Lawrence Spikes, a minister who ran unsuccessful campaigns for mayor of Winnfield in 2002 and 2006, said Pikes' death reinforces his view that abuse of power is a persistent problem in the city.

"This has been going on for a while," said Spikes, who is black. "It's not just blacks being abused. It's whites being abused, too."

On Monday, the mother of Pikes' 4-year-old son filed a wrongful-death suit in federal court against city officials, Nugent and Taser International. The suit accuses city officials of civil rights violations in Pikes' death.


© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 83 Comments
by honestabe8 August 16, 2008 10:00 AM EDT
Have fun in prison, cop
Reply to this comment
by patriot12436 August 15, 2008 11:40 PM EDT
bottom line 1
I worked as a bounty hunter in Shreveport for 6 years. I have nothing but respect for the officers i worked with. TWO died in the line of duty from scum factor they were protecting the public from during the time i worked in this area.
Reply to this comment
by bottom_line1 August 15, 2008 6:00 PM EDT
The only reason someone would rather killer cops is because they themselves are cowards. As for the autopsy report, I doubt anyone has or will actually see the entire report, check Louisiana Statutes. In this great State we have the right to remain silent and live like mushrooms. There is so much corruption in Louisiana, this case just happened to get picked up to fill a time slot. If a reporter with balls ever spent time investigating Louisiana, the only state governed under the Napoleonic Code, they could the top of the journalist heap and have a new story every week. In Louisiana if you need a coward call a cop.
Reply to this comment
by patriot12436 August 15, 2008 1:07 AM EDT
rwm2 2000
We already have that situation, i would rather have the killer cop.
Reply to this comment
by rwm2_2000 August 14, 2008 11:13 PM EDT
Actually I would rather have a criminal walking the street than a killer cop...At least if i have to defend myself I''ll have the ability to use my gun where these killer cops just kill and get by with it.
Reply to this comment
by rickstas August 14, 2008 9:03 PM EDT
"In a civilized society, abuse by those who are given great authority cannot be tolerated"


HOw true!!!!
Reply to this comment
by lochlan-2009 August 14, 2008 4:59 PM EDT
"Nugent was fired but is appealing his dismissal. Phillip Terrell, Nugent''s lawyer, has said his client followed department protocols and didn''t use excessive force."

There you have it from the defense. Department protocol is to zap the guy 9 times with 50,000volts, and excessive force does not include murdering someone with a taser.
Reply to this comment
by shaggydo-2009 August 14, 2008 3:25 PM EDT
Fortunately the cops in our area use common sense and not blind brute force simply because they can -------------------------------------- Posted by shaggydo


No tasers, eh?


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Posted by DaVicar2 at 12:17 PM : Aug 14, 2008

No because common sense and good training has proven to be a much more effective.
Reply to this comment
by shaggydo-2009 August 14, 2008 3:11 PM EDT
The autopsy showed he was dead before the seventh taser shock ----------------------------------------
--------------- Posted by shaggydo


- - - Terrell disagreed with the coroner''''s conclusion but said he hasnt pinpointed the cause of death. "We havent been allowed to see the autopsies yet," he said.



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Posted by DaVicar2 at 12:01 PM : Aug 14, 2008

Of course he disagreed he''s the thug''s lawyer because that''s his job not because it''s necessarily true and like it says he has no other explanation.
Reply to this comment
by shaggydo-2009 August 14, 2008 3:08 PM EDT
Maybe youll get lucky and this fine example of law en-FORCE-ment will be hired in your community ---------------------------------------- Posted by shaggydo


I am sure you would rather have Baron Pikes out walking YOUR streets, instead of Scott Nugent ? ? ?


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Posted by DaVicar2 at 11:57 AM : Aug 14, 2008

Or your type! Fortunately the cops in our area use common sense and not blind brute force simply because they can.
Reply to this comment
by patriot12436 August 14, 2008 2:58 PM EDT
crazycwp
I am not doubting you at all, just hadn''t seen any of the stories. Would like to know what the whole truth is before making an opinion.
Reply to this comment
by crazycwp August 14, 2008 2:53 PM EDT
patriot the first story was about a month ago. In that story it told of the list of citizen''s complaints against Nugent. I am all for cops(good ones) there are not enough stories telling of their good deeds, just stories of bad ones. I come from a long line of law enforcement officers, 2 cousins former DEA, my great grandpa was a cop in Dallas when the streets were still dirt. and i am proud of all of them.
Reply to this comment
by shaggydo-2009 August 14, 2008 2:46 PM EDT
The autopsy showed he was dead before the seventh taser shock.
Reply to this comment
by patriot12436 August 14, 2008 2:43 PM EDT
I have seen people mentally deranged or on drugs that could laugh at a taser charge, or being sprayed with pepper gas. It is like fighting superman. I had a girl who was about 100 pounds high on cocaine and break my wrist in a fight while i was arresting her.
Reply to this comment
by patriot12436 August 14, 2008 2:39 PM EDT
crazycwp
I didn''t see any other stories on this case. Was the victim black ? I honestly don''t know and don''t think it should make a difference. If the officer was wrong he should answer for it.
Reply to this comment
by shaggydo-2009 August 14, 2008 2:39 PM EDT
Are you insane or just a just trying to be funny? ----------------------------------- Posted by shaggydo



How come SERIOUS wasnt an option? Because I AM SERIOUS!

Any druggie who is so doped up that he can survive EIGHT Taser blasts, deserves #9!

Officer Nugents JOB is to get criminals OFF THE STREET, and I guarantee you, young Mister Pikes is no longer a menace to our society!


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Posted by DaVicar2 at 11:28 AM : Aug 14, 2008

I guess I have my answer. Because if you read all available information and come up with those remarks. You must be ''seriously'' insane. Maybe you''ll get lucky and this fine example of law en-FORCE-ment will be hired in your community.
Reply to this comment
by crazycwp August 14, 2008 2:37 PM EDT
Did anybody read the first story that was printed on this incident? Scott Nugent has a long list of grievances filed against him for past offenses. He is a rogue cop and a racist and he is, by far, not the only cop in Louisiana like this.
Reply to this comment
by patriot12436 August 14, 2008 2:36 PM EDT
crazycwp
I would likie to herar the facts of the case before deciding who was right or wrong. If the officer is guilty then let justice take its course. Wearing a badge does not put anyone above the law. I lived in Lousiana for 9 years so i know exactly what you are talking about.
Reply to this comment
by patriot12436 August 14, 2008 2:33 PM EDT
knowhr
hwy71 made a civil statement. I do not know why you felt a need to respond with insults.
Reply to this comment
by crazycwp August 14, 2008 2:33 PM EDT
I grew up in a small town in Louisiana and know first hand how "good ol boy policemen" operate. It''s about time the spotlight was on this problem there. Louisiana has got to come into the 21st century and realize that pea patch politics ain''t gonna work anymore. If you connections in Louisiana and get into trouble you can rest assured that you''re gonna get out of it. It all depends on what your last name is. And shaggydo just ignore Davicar2 He is a complete idiot. I hope they throw the book at Scott Nugent he deserves it.
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