A former Monroe Police officer has been indicted in federal court for violation of the civil rights of black man he reportedly assaulted and kicked in the face.
Thursday, October 28, 2021, a United States attorney announced that former Monroe Police officer, Jared Desadier, was indicted for Willfully Depriving an Individual of their Right to be Free from Unreasonable Seizure and Witness Tampering.
Desadier is accused in the case of Timothy Williams, then a homeless man, who was accosted by Desadier and other officers reportedly in connection with a burglary alert, which proved to be false. In the process of the police stop, Desadier kicked Williams in the face while he was handcuffed on the ground.
According to the federal indictment, on April 21, 2020, Desadier used unjustified force against an arrestee by kicking them in the face and head area.
The assault caused bodily injury and involved the use of a dangerous weapon (a shod foot). The indictment alleges that the former officer attempted to cover up his misconduct by engaging in misleading conduct towards his supervisors.
The arrestee (Williams) complained in the presence of the supervising officers that he had been assaulted during the arrest. Desadier claimed that he had not touched or harmed the arrestee. The former officer blamed the arrestee’s injuries on a fall.
If convicted, Desadier faces 20 years of prison for the witness tampering offense and 10 years in prison for the deprivation-of-rights offense.
On July 15, 2020 the MPD filed criminal charges against Desadier, these charges are seperate from the Federal Civil Rights charges. The MPD gave the following details in their warrant:
“On 4-21-20, MPD officers began searching for an audible alarm in the 700 block of N. 4th Street. While in the area of the audible alarm, a MPD officer observed a male walking in the 400 block of N. 4th with a backpack. Due to the audible alarm in the area, the officer conducted a field interview with the subject carrying the backpack, who was identified as Timothy Williams. While conducting the field interview, Timothy Williams began to flee on foot from the scene. A short foot pursuit occurred, and Timothy was taken into custody.
As a Monroe Police Department Officer gave chase, commands were given to Timothy to stop. Timothy did stop, lay on the ground, and place his hands behind his back.
As Timothy lay in a prone position with his hands behind his back, Officer Jared Desadier came running up to Timothy and kicked Timothy in the head. Timothy began to yell as if he was in pain. Timothy remained in a prone position and appeared to be compliant with officers during the arrest. While lying in the prone position, it appears Officer Desadier kneed Timothy in the head. This incident was captured on body camera footage. Timothy was handcuffed and remained lying on the concrete when the body camera was turned away from Timothy.
After the body camera was turned, a noise can be heard, and Timothy began to cry out. Officer Desadier then escorts Timothy to a Monroe Police Unit and slams Timothy onto the rear of the police car. Moments later, body camera footage would indicate Timothy’s face, which appeared to have been badly beaten. While at the scene, Timothy complained that he had been kicked the face, kneed in the face, beat-up, and his tooth had been knocked out.
After this incident, Timothy can be seen falling to the ground and having what appeared to be a seizure. Timothy was treated by Acadian Ambulance employees. Timothy was transported to St. Francis hospital where he was treated and released. Timothy was booked into OCC.
On 7-15-20, your Affiant spoke with Timothy regarding this incident. Timothy admitted to fleeing from officers during a field investigation on 4-21-20. Timothy stated he ran, but soon gave-up by laying on the ground with his hands behind his back. After surrendering to police, Timothy stated he was kicked in the face, and beaten after being placed in handcuffs.
Timothy stated his tooth was knocked out as a result of the aforesaid battery. Timothy also had scarring on both eyes, his cheek, and forehead, which he said was caused from being beaten. Timothy, who does suffer from epilepsy, stated he was knocked unconscious by the aforesaid beating. Timothy said he did not have any injuries to his face prior to this incident. Officers observed that Timothy was missing a tooth.
Body camera footage does indicate Officer Jared Desadier acted without cause when he kicked Timothy in the face, kneed him in the head, and slammed him onto the police car. Timothy’s bloody face, missing tooth and scaring all indicate that he was beaten badly as a result of this incident. An arrest warrant is respectfully requested for Jared P. Desadier for 2nd-degree battery and malfeasance in office.
