NEW ORLEANS - Shavonda Brooks, on behalf of minor child A.B., filed a federal lawsuit on December 10 in the Eastern District of Louisiana against Jefferson Parish officer Brian Kahrs, records custodian Cherie’ W. Blanchard and sheriff Joseph P. Lopinto III for assault, battery, excessive force and a violation of open records law.
According to the complaint, A.B., a Black minor who was 16 years old in December 2020, was selling brownies with his cousin in a parking lot in an attempt to save up enough money for a video game. Kahrs got into his car and drove toward A.B., and when he got close to A.B., he stopped, got out of the car, he immediately drew his gun, the suit says.
Kahrs threw A.B. onto the hood of his car and then to the ground, repeatedly punching him before handcuffing him and bringing him to jail, the suit claims. A.B. was later treated at the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans and diagnosed with a fractured wrist.
Brooks seeks a declaration that the Defendant Kahrs’ conduct violates the Fourth and Fourteenth amendments of the United States Constitution, punitive and compensatory damages, attorney's fees and cost, injunctive relief and other relief deemed reasonable by the court. Brooks is represented by Dewayne L. Williams of New Orleans.
Eastern District Court of Louisiana case number 2:21-cv-02280-JCZ-DPC