Busted In Acadiana

Stock Photo, this is not an actual picture of the alleged victim.

I recently ran across the Blog, “Who Protect You“ .

A woman shares her account of being sexually assaulted (possibly rape) by a Police Officer in the Lafayette area that has never made it into the public eye. In fact, after reading through the victim’s blog, it appears multiple elected officials are aware of the incident, however, to our knowledge no arrest has ever been made.

Her first blog post below describes a very sinister encounter with a deputy in chilling details:

Please keep in mind that this is my first attempt at blogging.  Much of the nights events I can not post here, as they would be too graphic. Obviously Deputy Serpent, I call him; committed a crime or I wouldn’t be writing

I meet Deputy Serpent, 6’4″, 225lbs, bald, blue eyes and cleft chin; for the first and only time on the evening of September 19, 2011.  He was to come by my house and either bring something to eat or something to cook, we had discussed a breakfast as he stated many times his preference for it.  Prior to our meeting, we had communicated briefly via phone calls, text messages and Facebook.  He had told me that he worked all the time and had almost no personal time, but he would like meet me.  We made arrangements for a quick meeting and meal at my home.

It was the evening of September 19, 2011. Deputy Serpent had worked that day so he arrived just after 10 p.m.  Maybe fifteen minutes later my son returned home. I had asked Serpent to please stand up when my son entered and introduce himself and shake my sons hand.  As he gave me a questioning look I politely said “It’s simply a matter of respect. This is his home too.”  Keys jingled as the lock turned and my son entered the living room.  The deputy stood and greeted my son as I requested.  My son did not stay home very long.  I asked him if he was hungry but he said he was fine, that he was about to go over to his girlfriends house.  As soon as my son left the terror began.  For just over three hours I would have to use all the physical, verbal and mental defenses I could summon.  I quickly became aware that this man, deputy or not, was not a good man. The strong intelligent man I had perceived from our conversations, rapidly turned into a physically abusive, mentally twisted individual!  It was painfully obvious I could not over power him.  My only chance was to out think him.  But this man in my house was not the man I had spoken to before, though I was positive the man I now faced was the true him.  Everything else in my world ceased to exist, all that remained was that moment in time.  He would flip from aggressively physically abusive and yelling to calm, polite, quiet.  Over and over again, shaking me, twisting me, pulling off my clothes then back to calm, quiet demeanor and soft words.  This person knew what he was doing, it seemed he relished this as some kind of game.  I knew when he was about to switch modes because he would always declare “I am just gonna leave”, and I remained quiet.  If I told him to leave he would get pissed off and I surely didn’t want him to stay!  So I always remained quiet in those moments, praying he would just leave.  Instead he would slip into his quiet, calm mode and settle back into the couch.   I couldn’t, wouldn’t let myself believe there was no hope, that I wouldn’t make it through this.  If I allowed myself to believe that even for a second, then I surely wouldn’t.  He feed on my responses, anger, tears no matter what degree of emotion, he feed on it.  As if it empowered him.

Into the third hour of this ordeal I had a revelation, no emotion.  Not sad, not angry. Void.  Void of all emotion.  That is what affected him.  I realized later it was exactly what he did.  When he would flip to his calm state, so to speak, he became detached, as if he was recharging for the next round.  This is the realization that saved me.  Serpent had me pinned to the couch, his weight crushing me.  He forced his mouth over mine, raking his teeth across my lips and knocking his teeth against mine. It felt like he was trying to chew that part of my face off.  I would say I went cold, but not even that, cold would be a degree of emotion.  Cold would piss him off!   I went void.   Empty shell.  No thoughts in my brain, no emotion in my soul.   Angryly he said ” I just want to get to know you” and he turn his head and looked  into my eyes.  It was like someone slapped him in the face.  He recoiled. And in a singular motion he stood, made his way around the coffee table saying “I’m just gonna leave” making a bee line to the front door, unlocking and opening it he finished his sentence “lock the door behind me.”  And he was gone.

For a brief second I felt relieved.  Then it was as if my body somehow knew the safest place for me to exist at that moment was the void.  I remember I stood up from the couch and walked to my room.  I picked up a candle and sat down at my desk to light it and say a prayer.  I was detached from all emotion.  It was over.  The serpent was gone.

I started feeling weak.  I hadn’t eaten so I walked to the kitchen and located a burrito I had left over from a previous trip to Taco Bell.  I heated it for a few seconds in the microwave and sat down on the couch placing it on the coffee table.  My beer was still three quarters full, I was parched.  I put hot sauce on my food and reached for it.  I took a sip, grimacing I set it back down.  It was hot.  I had my first beer of the day at 9:00 p.m., that was my second and it was now after 2:00 a.m.  The weakness had started to consume me.  At that moment I glanced back at my beer the light bulb going off. Serpent put something in my beer.  I fought it, telling myself if I could just get some food in me it would be alright.  I slowly manged to eat my food.  But it didn’t help.  Still seated on the edge of the couch I began to sway.  My only thought was “Stay awake.”   I fought and fought to stay awake, still void of emotion.  No panic.  My only focus was to stay awake till it passed.  I suffer from low blood sugar, and I knew without a doubt this wasn’t the case.  I had no concept of time as I struggled to keep my eyes open and my head from falling back on my neck.

It has been said that when your other senses weaken the one unaffected heightens.  I can attest to that.  I have experienced this phenomenon albeit for different reasons.  I would later come to understand that was what exactly what had happened. 

As I struggled to stay awake I heard noises, voices.  At first inaudible whispers, then a phrase rang clear, “No she is still awake.”   They seemed to becoming form outside my front door.  For an instant fear threatened to engulf me.  Some how I managed to lift my eyelids higher.  Calming myself I reached for the remote, assuring myself there was no reason to panic, I had been drugged and it was just my imagination.  I pressed the mute button.  It was quiet now.

Now I had reached the moment where I knew I was loosing my battle with consciousness.  My eyes had shut, my head settled on the back of my neck and again I heard voices.  I could not make out what was being said at first and then I caught a few words.  “She’s about to go down.”  Fear and determination collided, vying for control over me.  I stood straight up, as if a robot had been given a direct command.  I grabbed my phone and went straight to my front door.  The three window panes on the door had been glazed over in white paint, just remnants of the incompetent contractors the landlord had hired to help fix this old house.  But in the center of the center pane there existed a two inch circle that had been cleared of paint. I briefly peered out the opening, I wasn’t certain.  I looked again and then switched to my other eye.  I did see someone!

Crouched behind the bushes not twelve feet from my steps but I needed to be positive.  I held my position.  The bill of his baseball cap turned towards me and though I could not see his face I knew he saw mine.  The shadowed figure immediately scurried back a few more feet behind the bushes.  Still crouched down, he grab at the leaves at the base of the hedges, as if he was digging or burying somehting in the leaves.  I stepped away from the door dialing 911.  The operator answered and I told her there was someone outside my house in the bushes.  She connected me to dispatch.  They lady stayed on the phone with me until the police officers arrived and had looked around the house then proceeded to approached my door.  I hung up the phone and greeted the officers. It would be the first of three times they were called out that evening/morning.

On October 7th, 2011 Here2besafe blogger writes horrible truths I would learn regarding the suspect, police/sheriff’s department and judicial system…

I received a call from the I.A. Officer, approximately 12 hours after the occurrence in question.  Exhausted, distraught and honestly aggravated that yet another person needed me to recount the events.  Looking back I feel bad for my sharp tone and temporarily non-compliant decisiveness. I simply, literally had no strength left. The I.A. officer requested that I come in and speak with him.  I told him “Yes, but not now.  I am tired.  I have been answering questions and providing information for what?  Seems like 16 hours straight?  Not today, I will be happy to come in tomorrow and speak with you.”  He was professional and persistent.  Though absolutely not intentional, I plowed aside his questions as they were lobbed at me.  No more questions, I am exhausted, I just want rest….were the thoughts dominating my mind at that point.  The Officer managed to get a few one word answers form me about the incident, but I was firm in my resolve.  ”I apologize, honestly I don’t mean to be rude, I just can’t do this right now. It is no disrespect to you, I simply can’t.  I will be happy to go in tomorrow and answer any questions you have.  I just need to rest.”  His patience had never wavered and he kindly stated “That’s okay. Really, I understand.  I will see if I can just use the written statement you gave to the Detective.  ” Slowing my verbal defenses, as the weight of the last 16 hours completely enveloped me, I replied “Thank you.  I am more than happy to provide any answers you may need, I simply am too exhausted, call me tomorrow if you have need for me to come in to speak with you.”  I thanked the Internal Affairs officer as the conversation ended.

 I provided the Detective with a written statement and later a verbal interview which was not at all as cumulative as I know it should have been.  I also spoke with a long time friend of mine who happens to be an X-cop that still maintains his associations with law enforcement and government as part of his current employment activities. Other than a very few family members I refrained from communicating with others. 

 I wouldn’t meet the Internal Affairs officer until Friday, 9/23/11.  Prior to the meeting some of the knowledge I acquired during the rest of the week truly terrified me, more than my own experience.  Serpent had previously been under investigation prior to this,  I would later find out a little more detail from the Detective, which I could of done without knowing, it made it that much more difficult to accept the occurences that would follow.  

 My brother told me ”You have to press charges.”  ”I believe you, but you know he is going to deny it. It is your word against his as far as criminal charges, but I.A. is gonna handle it.” “I have to stay out of it and I can’t tell you anything regarding details, but it will be ok”, “Don’t worry, he wouldn’t dare come after you now.”,  A lady at the court house told me  ”…can’t make an appointment with the D.A. until we get the paperwork, 4-8 weeks.”  

 

 The cops didn’t tell me to get a restraining order, I inquired in person to a pleasant receptionist and I told her my situation; she said ”They didn’t?  Well you can, should get a restraining order” and that I couldn’t afford $300 at that moment. “A restraining order won’t cost you till you go to court…go to here and talk to her and she will explain everything to you and help you fill it out”, I ended up being direct to various points in the parish court house and eventually was told  ”He is not related to you, so you can’t get a restraining order”, “You could do this (peace bond) it will cost you $200 or you could mark this and in maybe a week go before a judge to decide (if a peace bond is in order)”.  “If I sign this then he can’t carry a weapon”. And the revelations and education poured over me, crushing me without mercy as if an eighteen wheeler had hit me full speed, head on!  The horrible truths kept coming, “Its an election year, they are gonna want to sweep it under the rug and keep it quiet”, “Do you know what the conviction rate for crimes against persons is? Only 10%, crimes against property only 25% crimes against persons”,  ”Sometimes police cover for each other, get your butt down to the D.A.’s office now”, ”Serpent was on call that night”, ”We don’t need his beer bottles its not important”,, “The packet buried in the leaves wasn’t relevant.”

The interview with I.A. went well and for the fist time I felt a little bit of the massive weight ease up slightly.  Once I started, the recounting of occurrence’s flowed easily, beginning to end from me.  I stated to the I.A. officer ”No offense, but I don’t have much faith.” (in the system, that he will be caught, that myself and others will be safe).  He looked surprised that I stated that, though I perceived he wasn’t surprised that I felt it, just that I stated it. I told him “I understand that  the Detective can’t  hear or use I.A.’s interview with Serpent”, but inquired that “He should be able to use mine, shouldn’t he”?  He paused, thought a second, almost surprised that I asked and gladly replied “Yeah, but I will have to get permission from my Lieutenant.  Have the Detective give me a call and I will see about getting him a copy”. I thanked him, signed and received copies of paperwork.  He assured me that if the Detective was not able to help me with something that he would do what he could, too call him if I had need. There had been another officer in the interview room who would administer a polygraph to Serpent if need be who also assured me that he believed me and would help in any way he was able.

 

The police were called again on Friday, 9/30/11,  for the third time; aside from the day of the incident in question.  Each time I was away from home or had just returned and it was in the dark of night.

 

I do fear for my safety. I believe with every ounce of my being he will harm someone else and worse. I have reason to believe he has harmed before.  I have reason to believe he is not alone in his actions.  Be Blessed. And make sure you know, Who Protects You! 

On Wednesday, October 19th, 2011 Here2besafe blogger writes about Officer’s and Departments are yet to be held accountable……..

The investigating department has yet to be held accountable, whether actions are deemed right or wrong; equally the department that employees the suspect has yet to be held accountable.

So many things were purposely left behind at the crime scene. So much evidence was actually obtained but ignored and not even researhed or applied to the case. And yet more was not obtained but can still be. I went up the chain of command at the investigating department to no avail. I received no answers, no apologies, was treated harshly and rudely. To give you an idea, one thing I was told “If you felt it was important then why didn’t you go get a copy of it?” Then told good luck, we are done with the case, it should be at the D.A.’s office by Monday or Tuesday (October 18-19, 2011).

The Sheriff absolutely should be aware of what has occurred, yet he has made no effort to contact me to excuse, defend, reassure or explain . I sent him an email this Tuesday, October 18, 2011 and await his response. I would like to thank the officer’s in I.A. they were definitely a bright spot in all of this, if one could be found. So, the issues I have are with how this law enforcement department is lead, the how’s and whys of policies and procedures enacted and enforced that should ensure the department consistently fills it’s purpose, to protect and serve the citizens and community.

I have no doubt that bringing this to light will pose more difficulties for me and my son. My house was broken into once, with attempted break-ins twice since the incident.

As I have stated I do not wish to bring harm, slander, hurt or cause any unjust occurrences for anyone. I have and want to live in this town and parish. I truly feel it is a matter of cops protecting cops, and please don’t get me wrong I do not mean all cops. I have great respect for law enforcement and would like you to read what I have previously jotted in long hand elsewhere:
Officer’s deal with and go through more than most people could possibly cope with in a life time. It is a calling and the calling isn’t to wield power and intimidate those they should be protecting. I truly understand why cops protect cops, but their is a limit..It’s CALLED THE LAW!
When officers turn a blind eye to fellow officers that are breaking the law they are sworn to up hold, they become no better than those they arrest. I have lost faith in the Sheriff’s Department, I am a victim of a corrupt deputy and it seems their only concern is to keep it quiet till after election? All I was told was that I would recieve a letter letting me know if any action was taken. So much for “Protecting and Serving”. And it becomes a matter of who you know and/or work for instead of a matter of right and fair under the Law.

The law is for all people not just those ‘we the people’ have given the authority to wield it. It is a huge burden to say the least, and every officer, foremost, must up hold the law or he isn’t a law enforcement officer. He is just another pawn in politics, an I am just another victim left in the wake of the political powers that be and their need and greed to wield a power that they wouldn’t have in the first place without us ‘the citizens”

The Only Way to be worthy of such power is to be humble and stay true to your sworn oath.

Know, that my actions are not for myself as much as for the woman that will be victimized if I do not take a stand. He will harm someone else and worse. I do not relish nor am I disillusioned about what this is going to put me through. My home has been broken into and/or my privacy violated three times since the occurrence in question. I have lived in fear of my life, with good reason, since then . Only in the last week has there been some measure of peace. I am well aware that it would be quite easy for any of the given powers that be to eliminate me. It was done to my father, albeit at a different level of government, it was basically for the same reason, taking a stand against corrupt officers and officials in an attempt to protect others. Trust me the dangers of taking such a stand is a lesson I have lived with and taken to heart my entire life. I have no desire to be a self sacrificing martyr.
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So, that being said; I hope it is obvious that there are many things left unsaid and many things not addressed. I do not want to reveal those details of the case, as I still hold hope that it will go to trial and/or there will be accountability. This case has gone to the D.A.’s office and hopefully answers will follow.

I come from a family line of law enforcement and I know there are many good officers. To those officer’s I say Thank You! Your service, endurance, dedication and loyalty to the people is appreciated and recognized.

Read other blog post at http://whoprotectsyou.blogspot.com/