The Baton Rogue (Louisiana) Police Department recently charged 20-year-old Brittany Stephens with negligent homicide in the traffic-related death of her year-old daughter, Sevaira.
On Oct. 12, 2017, 28-year-old off-duty Baton Rogue police officer Christopher Manuel, while driving his 2007 Corvette 94 miles an hour, plowed into a 2002 Nissan Xterra which contained several occupants, including Stephens and her daughter, Sevaira.
Stephens was charged for failing to properly adjust the car seat’s straps and securing the child’s car seat when she admitted to officers she had been responsible for placing the car seat “between the two front seats” in the vehicle.
In February, Manuel also was arrested and charged with negligent homicide. He was placed on paid administrative leave.
According to Sgt. Don Coppola, the detectives who investigated the crash “booked the appropriate parties who contributed to the death of the one year old … and believe they have probable cause to support the charges against Stephens.” The truth about probable cause is that those detectives don’t necessarily need to be right just “have a belief.” And trust me, there’s no consequence for the detectives if they are later proven wrong.
Having to suffer the loss of a child and then deal with the reality of defending criminal charges is unconscionable. This was an attempt by the Baton Rouge Police Department and those prosecutors with whom they have a symbiotic relationship to circle the wagons and mitigate Manuel’s irresponsible and reckless behavior.
It is another example of the Baton Rogue Police Department demonstrating wanton disregard for black folks.
Remember when Baton Rogue Police Officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Blake II hurled expletives at Alton Sterling who was allegedly selling CDs outside of a convenience store. As the officers struggled with Sterling, one of them could be heard on a video recording telling Sterling that he would be shot if he continued to move? Promise made – promise kept.
Sterling died because of that fatal police encounter. Federal prosecutors declined to prosecute the officers, leaving it up to the Louisiana attorney general and a state prosecutor to decide if state charges would be later filed against the officers. What are the chances of state charges being filed?
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