CHURCH POINT, La. — Terrance Garrick Jr. is running for police chief in Church Point. A KATC investigation into his past found a documented history of violence dating back more than a decade.
Timeline of reports and arrests
Two reports from teachers cited signs of abuse in Garrick's children, one in 2009 and another in 2014. Nothing came of either report, as far as could be determined.
In 2015, Garrick was arrested for allegedly slapping his ex-wife in front of their child.
In 2016, he was arrested twice. In August of that year, police booked him for allegedly beating his ex-wife and attempting to light her on fire. He was booked on aggravated battery and attempted second-degree murder. He eventually pleaded down to a misdemeanor.
In October 2016, he was arrested and booked in the Acadia Parish jail for breaking into a man's home, damaging a vehicle and beating three people, one of whom was a minor.
In 2023, he was arrested again for simple battery.
Garrick was never formally charged with anything more than a few misdemeanors. Despite accumulating 12 months of jail time in sentences, he never served that time, receiving instead a few months of unsupervised probation.
Legal expert weighs in
A legal expert said domestic violence cases are difficult to prosecute, particularly without a cooperative victim. The expert said that when the accused is the breadwinner, victims often consider what prosecution would mean for the accused professionally. The expert said victims ultimately ask themselves, "what will happen to the kids?"
KATC Investigates contacted Garrick by phone and asked if he could understand why this history might give Church Point citizens pause. After some back and forth, he declined to comment.
