The Baton Rouge Police Department announced today that the administrative investigation into four separate incidents involving Officer Blaine Salamoni has concluded.
The four incidents are separate from the Alton Sterling investigation and were investigated independent of the Alton Sterling incident. One of the four incidents initiated a criminal investigation by BRPD Detectives. Detectives found sufficient evidence to support the charge of Simple Battery, and Salamoni was issued a summons for that charge.
In March of 2018, BRPD personnel met with the US Attorney’s office to review their case files regarding the shooting death of Alton Sterling. While reviewing evidence related to the Alton Sterling incident, BRPD personnel were made aware of additional body camera videos that the US attorney’s office reviewed. The videos were not related to the Alton Sterling incident, but involved four other incidents.
BRPD provided a synopsis of each video; all the incidents happened in June 2016. Sterling was shot to death by Salamoni in July 2016.
Officer Salamoni’s Body Camera Footage, June 2, 2016: Officer Salamoni was dispatched to a disturbance at a residence in the 1400 block of N. 42nd Street. The complainant wanted his female friend removed from the residence. Officer Salamoni used profanity and demonstrated unprofessional behavior during the incident.
Officer Salamoni’s Body Camera Footage, June 3, 2016: Officer Salamoni was dispatched to Alamo Plaza Motel at 4243 Florida Boulevard, regarding a male or female being held against their will. Officer Salamoni and the other officers made contact with a b/m subject standing inside a motel room. As soon as Officer Salamoni saw the subject, he used profanity and grabbed the subject around his neck and pressed his head against the wall. Officer Salamoni used profanity and demonstrated unprofessional behavior during the incident.
Officer Salamoni’s Body Camera Footage, June 4, 2016: Officer Salamoni was dispatched to Ragusa’s Meat Market at 4895 Gus Young Avenue, relative to persons hanging out in the parking lot. Upon Officer Salamoni’s arrival, he immediately exited his police cruiser and used profanity while speaking with the suspects.
Officer Salamoni’s Body Camera Footage, June 10, 2016: Officer Salamoni and other officers responded to a domestic incident. During the incident, Officer Salamoni and two other officers were involved in a foot pursuit and arrest of a man named Brooks. Officer Salamoni and one of the other officers were able to apprehend Brooks after he was tased. After a brief struggle Officer Salamoni was able to handcuff Brooks after verbally advising him to “Lay on your (expletive) stomach now; give me your (expletive) hands.” “Move your (expletive) hand again and see what happens”. The body worn camera shows that after Brooks was handcuffed behind his back and compliant, Officer Salamoni stated, “I am not talking to you shut up,” then Officer Salamoni slapped Brooks in the head while he was laying on the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back.
Officer Salamoni and another Officer then escorted Brooks to a police unit. According to the report submitted by Officer Salamoni, he turned off his body worn camera to speak with another officer about the incident. According to Officer Salamoni, he was summoned by the other officer when the officer discovered Brooks reaching for a gun in Brooks’ rear pants pocket. While Brooks was handcuffed behind his back, Salamoni’s report states that he forcefully pulled Brooks to the ground and delivered multiple straight closed fist punches to Brooks’ head until the other two officers were able to remove the weapon from his rear pocket. According to Salamoni’s report, neither of the other officers struck Brooks while he was handcuffed behind his back. Officer Salamoni’s report states that he turned his body camera back on after it was safe to do so.
When Officer Salamoni turned his body camera back on, he was heard telling one of the other Officer’s “I should chew your (expletive) (expletive) out for that (expletive)!” “Do not ever let that (expletive) (expletive) happen again do you understand me?”
While on the scene conducting the investigation, a family member of Brooks reportedly started yelling at the officers. Officer Salamoni, ran towards that family member and stated, “Come here (expletive).” “Come here mother (expletive) get on the ground.” Get on the (expletive) ground.” The family member was subsequently arrested and charged with resisting an officer and interference with a law enforcement investigation.
On March 29, 2018, Officer Salamoni was present at the Baton Rouge Police Headquarters with his union representative and his attorney. Officer Salamoni and his attorney were called into the Internal Affairs Office to continue the administrative investigation related to the four incidents previously mentioned. Officer Salamoni was advised of his Administrative Rights and was asked to provide a statement concerning the incidents. At the advice of his attorney, Officer Salamoni refused to give a statement, and he did not cooperate with the internal affairs investigation, Baton Rouge Police say.
