;)
Tuesday
Aug192008
Scott Nugent Charged in Taser Death
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 1:26AM
Ex-Police officer Scott Nugent, 21, caused the death of Baron "Scooter" Pikes, 21, according to a grand jury, by tasering him a total of 9 times in 39 minutes. In fact the Winn Parish grand jury indicted Scott Nugent on two charges: Manslaughter and Malfeasance in office. Nugent has been fired from his job with the Winnfield police but is contesting that decision.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8TFoRq_XiM]
Nugent, who is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 21, faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the manslaughter charge. The malfeasance charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. Nugent has surrendered to sheriff's deputies and was booked on the two charges. He was released from jail after posting $45,000 bond, said his lawyer Phillip Terrell. In an interview, Winn Parish coroner Randolph Williams discusses the circumstances of Baron Spikes' death.
This case has serious racial undertones since Nugent is white and Pikes was black. Pikes was also a cousin of Mychal Bell, the lead defendant in the Jena Six case. Furthermore of the 14 times a taser has been used by the Winnfield police, 12 of those times it was used against blacks. Nugent was involved in 10 of those 12 cases. For the circumstances surrounding the death of Baron "Scooter" Pikes check this post.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrjBbx5dyKY&feature=related]
Latrina Thomas, the mother of Pikes' 4-year-old son has also filed a lawsuit. The lawsuit names the city of Winnfield, its mayor, the city council, the police chief, Scott Nugent and several police officers along with Taser International Inc. The lawsuit seeks unspecified punitive and compensatory damages, plus fees and expenses.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8TFoRq_XiM]
Nugent, who is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 21, faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the manslaughter charge. The malfeasance charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. Nugent has surrendered to sheriff's deputies and was booked on the two charges. He was released from jail after posting $45,000 bond, said his lawyer Phillip Terrell. In an interview, Winn Parish coroner Randolph Williams discusses the circumstances of Baron Spikes' death.
This case has serious racial undertones since Nugent is white and Pikes was black. Pikes was also a cousin of Mychal Bell, the lead defendant in the Jena Six case. Furthermore of the 14 times a taser has been used by the Winnfield police, 12 of those times it was used against blacks. Nugent was involved in 10 of those 12 cases. For the circumstances surrounding the death of Baron "Scooter" Pikes check this post.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrjBbx5dyKY&feature=related]
Latrina Thomas, the mother of Pikes' 4-year-old son has also filed a lawsuit. The lawsuit names the city of Winnfield, its mayor, the city council, the police chief, Scott Nugent and several police officers along with Taser International Inc. The lawsuit seeks unspecified punitive and compensatory damages, plus fees and expenses.
"It's about justice," said Carol Powell Lexing, a lawyer for Pikes' family. "You can't bring (Pikes) back, but this can hold those responsible accountable for their actions."
