Report on Incident Involving Law Enforcement Officer in East Feliciana Parish

Incident Summary

A State Trooper, identified as Derrick Parish, was arrested in East Feliciana Parish on allegations of domestic violence. The incident, which occurred on a Monday evening, involves serious charges including battery of a dating partner and potential false imprisonment. The case highlights critical issues related to domestic violence, institutional accountability, and public health, aligning with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Incident Details and Allegations

According to the official affidavit, the following events were documented:

• The incident took place at a residence with children present at approximately 10:45 p.m.
• Trooper Parish allegedly engaged in a physical altercation with a female victim.
• Allegations include screaming, forcing the victim onto a bed, biting her face, and applying pressure to the point of impeding her breathing.
• Responding deputies discovered the victim in a state of extreme distress, described as “hysterically crying and shaking uncontrollably.”
• Physical evidence noted by deputies included a visible bite mark on the victim’s cheekbone and severe bruising on her arms and wrists.
• Trooper Parish exhibited signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, stuttering, and bloodshot eyes.
• The victim reported that while the alleged perpetrator had not been physically violent before, his consumption of liquor was an indicator of potential violence.

Legal and Administrative Actions

1. Arrest and Booking: Trooper Derrick Parish was booked for battery of a dating partner.
2. Bond: His bond was set at $25,000.
3. Further Investigation: The District Attorney’s office is reviewing the case for possible additional charges, such as false imprisonment.
4. Administrative Measures: State Police have placed Trooper Parish, a trooper since 2015 assigned to Troop A, on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Analysis in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This incident directly contravenes the principles and targets set forth in several key Sustainable Development Goals, underscoring the local relevance of these global objectives.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Target 5.2: The core of this incident—battery of a dating partner—is a direct violation of the goal to eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the private and public spheres. It represents a failure to protect women from domestic violence and ensure their physical safety and well-being.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.1: The alleged actions represent a severe form of interpersonal violence, undermining the goal to significantly reduce all forms of violence everywhere.
• Target 16.2: The presence of children during the violent altercation exposes them to severe psychological trauma, conflicting with the objective to end abuse, exploitation, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
• Target 16.6: The case involves a law enforcement officer, bringing the accountability and transparency of public institutions into sharp focus. The subsequent administrative leave and legal proceedings are critical tests of the commitment to developing effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.4: The profound distress of the victim, who was found “hysterically crying and shaking uncontrollably,” highlights the severe impact of violence on mental health and well-being.
• Target 3.5: The alleged perpetrator’s intoxication and the victim’s statement linking his alcohol consumption to violent tendencies point to the need to strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including the harmful use of alcohol, as a critical component of violence prevention.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article directly addresses gender-based violence. The incident described is a “battery of a dating partner,” where a man is accused of physically assaulting a woman. This falls squarely under the goal of achieving gender equality and eliminating violence against women.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • This goal is relevant as the article discusses a violent crime (“battery,” “false imprisonment”), the response of the justice system (arrest by the Sheriff’s office, potential charges by the District Attorney), and the accountability of institutions. The fact that the alleged perpetrator is a State Trooper makes the “Strong Institutions” aspect particularly pertinent, as it involves the conduct and oversight of law enforcement personnel. The presence of children during the violent act also connects to the goal of protecting children from violence.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article touches on health and well-being in two ways. First, it describes the physical injuries (“bite mark,” “severe bruising”) and acute psychological distress (“hysterically crying and shaking uncontrollably”) of the victim, which impacts her physical and mental health. Second, it identifies the “harmful use of alcohol” as a contributing factor to the violence, as the perpetrator showed signs of intoxication and had a history of potential violence when drinking.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.
   • The article provides a clear example of violence against a woman within the private sphere (a home). The alleged acts of biting, squeezing, and causing bruising are forms of physical violence that this target aims to eliminate.
2. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • The domestic assault is a specific instance of the “forms of violence” that this target seeks to reduce. The law enforcement response detailed in the article represents an action taken to address and curb such violence.
3. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
   • The article states that “children were present” during the violent fight. Witnessing severe domestic violence is a form of psychological abuse and emotional harm to children, which is relevant to this target.
4. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
   • The arrest of the trooper, the setting of his bond, and the District Attorney’s review for additional charges are all actions that demonstrate the “rule of law” being applied and the victim being provided “access to justice.”
5. Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
   • The article explicitly links the violence to alcohol. It notes the perpetrator’s signs of intoxication (“slurred speech,” “bloodshot eyes”) and the victim’s statement that “when he was drinking liquor, there were indicators that he could be violent.” This highlights the “harmful use of alcohol” as a direct contributor to the violence.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls… subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner.
   • The article provides a specific, documented case that would contribute data to this indicator. The victim is a woman subjected to physical violence (biting, bruising) and psychological violence (screaming, causing hysterical crying) by her dating partner.
2. Indicator 16.1.3: Proportion of population subjected to physical, psychological or sexual violence in the previous 12 months.
   • The victim described in the article is a member of the population measured by this indicator, having been subjected to both physical and psychological violence.
3. Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities.
   • The article implies that a report was made, as deputies responded to the scene and arrested the suspect based on the evidence and the victim’s condition. This case represents an instance of a victim’s experience being reported to and acted upon by “competent authorities.”
4. Qualitative data for Indicators related to SDG 3.
   • While not providing quantitative statistics, the article offers qualitative evidence related to health indicators. The description of the perpetrator’s intoxication and its link to his violent behavior serves as an anecdotal case study for the “harmful use of alcohol” (related to Indicator 3.5.2). The description of the victim’s physical injuries and severe emotional distress (“hysterically crying”) provides a qualitative example of the negative impacts on mental and physical health (related to Target 3.4).

Summary Table of Findings

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: wbrz.com