NEW ORLEANS — A Houma man is suing Louisiana and state police, alleging violation of his civil rights.
Audrey Groves filed a lawsuit June 6 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against the state of Louisiana, the Louisiana State Police, Lt. Col. Charles Dupuy, Col. Michael D. Edmonson and officer Joey Schouef, alleging they deprived him of his liberty without due process of law and deprived him of equal protection of the law.
According to the complaint, on Feb. 16, 2016, Groves, 71, was driving his pickup truck on Westside Boulevard in Houma. The suit says two police motorcycle officers pulled Groves over, handcuffed him with malice, used excessive and improper force, and damaged his wrist and arms, causing them to bleed.
As a result, the lawsuit states, Groves has suffered pain, suffering and humiliation and incurred accumulating medical bills. The plaintiff alleges Schoueft arrested him and refused to tell why he was physically under arrest, handcuffed him and maliciously and torturously allowed Groves to suffer in pain with no medical care and, brutally assaulted him. Police never took the plaintiff to the hospital, the suit says.
Groves seeks a trial by jury, damages exceeding $75,000, plus legal costs and other relief the court deems just. He is represented by attorney Glenn C. McGovern of Metairie.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-08504