LAFAYETTE - The City of Crowley and two police officers are the defendants in a complaint for damages filed on April 3 in the Western Louisiana District Court by a victim of excessive police force.
Plaintiff Travis Cormier of Egan was arrested on April 5, 2020, for outstanding warrants. Despite being nonviolent, unthreatening and compliant with police orders, the complaint says that defendant Officer Ashlee McElroy attacked and beat Cormier while he was handcuffed to the point that he became unconscious and had a seizure. McElroy was arrested over the incident in January and was charged with second-degree battery.
Further, defendant Chief Allen James Broussard was indicted by a grand jury on allegations he destroyed, hid or altered the evidence of McElroy's attack and excessive force in an effort to protect the officer and cover up the incident.
The defendants are charged with civil rights violations and municipal liability.
Cormier seeks damages for his injuries deemed appropriate by the court. He is represented by J. Clay LeJeune Attorney at Law LLC of Crowley.