Gambe reservation raises questions about favoritism for the LSP captain accused of DWI

Baton Rouge, at. (WAFB) – less than 24 hours after a Louisiana State Police captain (LSP) was arrested for causing an accident that injured a Baton Rouge police officer and another driver, there are questions about how this reservation was managed.

Captain Belinda Murphy withdrew from the state police following the accident that took place on Tuesday morning. Its retirement ends any internal administrative investigation, but bigger questions are raised about the fact that it has given a special treatment, because no crack after the accident was taken. Investigators said Murphy blew through a red light and caused the accident around 3 in the morning, near Baton Rouge airport. It is not clear exactly what he was doing there, while he was on duty in his state police vehicle, issued by the state. In a press release, the state police said Murphy was reserved in the parish prison. However, this did not happen and LSP had to correct its statement later. Instead, Murphy was brought to the parish prison, was a fingerprint, issued a criminal citation and was released. Was not reserved in prison and no mug was made.

WAFB requested an interview with the State Police Colonel Robert Hodges about Murphy’s DWI and the issue of reservation. Our request was refused – but a captain on public affairs said: “It is a standard operating procedure for collecting fingerprints and arresting photos on the poster and then issuing DWI DWI arrests within the East Baton Rouge parish.”

Data reject what the state police said

The I WAFB team has combed by the prison records in the East Baton Rouge in the last two months and found that the state police do not always follow this procedure. Only in February, they reserved seven different people for DWI charges for crimes.

Follow -up questions about this came with a different answer in which the state police said it was at the soldier’s discretion if you reserve someone in prison for a DWI accusation.

Our review of prison records noted the following DWIS offenses reserved in the East Baton Rouge parish prison for February:

Louisiana State Police – 7
East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office – 4
Baton Rouge Police – 2
LSU police – 1

In January, there were at least 12 persons reserved under DWI charges, according to the review of prison records from several law enforcement agencies.

Dwi took place differently

The I WAFB team obtained videos for the body camera of a DWI arrest in Northern Louisiana, which involved an ouquet deputy driving in the personal vehicle while he was out of service.

During the stop of the state troops in Louisiana, that deputy told the troops on stage that everything would be managed correctly.

Ginn was taken to the band F in Monroe and from here he ordered to blow in a breathing machine.

“Blow, Blow Blow”, a soldier is heard by telling Ginn.

In another part of the video, another soldier said they would make some calls to see if he had to bring the deputy to that parish prison to be reserved or could leave the band F only with a summons. When a sergeant returned, they established that Ginn would be reserved.

“It is one of those offers in which transparency is important and if they – they do not tell us – we are willing to facilitate this for anyone,” says a soldier. “It would seem inadequate to some – maybe not me – maybe not again on that day. If someone is like OH, he received a special treatment, they just went and received it. “

Ginn’s DWI arrest was presented in a WAFB I-Team report earlier this month, because his DWI was 55 hours after his release. District lawyer, Steve Tew, decided to give up the accusation.

“I will tell them exactly what I tell you,” Tew told I-Team. “We look at each case and try to get justice. I do not want to destroy the career of this wonderful man and I did this for non-political officers and I will continue to do it. “

A call for change

Mothers against driving leadership is a group of advocacy that fights driving in a state of intoxication. Sunny Wall is the executive director and said that what happened to Captain Murphy erodes the public’s confidence.

“It’s not fair,” Wall said. “It’s not right for anyone. No one should have a special treatment or do not face the severity of the consequences, as well as the process of a DWI because of who could be or what are the circumstances. Should be overboard. “

Wall said that its organization supports the application of the law throughout the state, but at the same time, there must be a certain responsibility.

“This does not exempt them from being held accountable when they decide to lead the affect,” Wall said. “The protocol should be the same for everyone, no matter who you are.”

Until something changes, she said that her organization would continue to fight for the victims and push for the rule of law to be applied evenly.

“He returns to the saying, for you, but not for me,” said Wall. “Everyone should be held accountable no matter who you are and regardless of logistics in your position.”

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