Veteran Assaulted Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Respond to Attack
October 11, 2024No Justice In Baton Rouge After 9/11 Attack
No justice in Baton Rouge. There are moments in life that leave a lasting mark—both physically and mentally. For many in Baton Rouge, September 11 will always have a deeper meaning, not just tied to history, but to personal violence and injustice. Sometimes, what you thought was your neighborhood, your safety net, is shattered in an instant by senseless heartlessness.
An assault occurred during the tumultuous events that unfolded on September 11 in East Baton Rouge. With a gun on his hip, an aggressive man approached, yelling obscenities about leash laws, and by the end, one man was left with broken bones and a shaken sense of security. Yet, in the wake of this harrowing experience, there remains no justice in Baton Rouge. We’re left asking: How can law enforcement not intervene after such a clear-cut case of violence?
The Broken Nose (And Broken Justice)
Our day had started off regular enough—taking Gypsy, our dog, out for a quick bathroom break just before Hurricane Francine made its landfall. What followed, though, tore apart what threads of calm we had left in our daily lives.
A man, who’d we later realize had branded himself our street’s own judge and jury, stalked angrily down the sidewalk. Despite the chaos sweeping Baton Rouge at the time of the hurricane, he wasn’t focused on seeking safety. No, his fixation was solely on Gypsy.
Ten houses down, the man fixated on shouting reverberating obscenities. “Get your f***ing dog!” Despite trying to stay calm, retrieving my dog from her spot on the porch only escalated the scenario. Inches later, the swing came down upon me. My nose, my face—all pounded by the force of his attack. I was stunned not just by the violence, but by the sight of bone fragments slipping into my hands.
It is worth noting that this attack wasn’t just physical. It goes much deeper when someone wields a gun openly in a residential space while similarly using fists as his language of power.
Where Is the Justice in Baton Rouge?
You would assume after taking dangerous actions like this with neighbors present, officers would respond immediately. That’s not how things unfolded, though, highlighting a profound lack of justice in Baton Rouge.
The ER report confirmed the damage: my face fractured, my nose broken in two places. I could hardly eat anything but bananas because chewing sent waves of pain through my skull. These injuries weren’t superficial. The inability to chew or swallow normally was just the first layer of the battle. Worse yet, my sense of safety was gone.
With x-rays in hand, we worked to provide the police with all the evidence necessary for action. Yet, nothing. The reality sunk in—this man is out there, walking around casually, gun still strapped to his hip, while I’m nursing wounds and trauma. Despite everything—the physical proof, the eyewitnesses—the Sheriff’s Office gave us the runaround, citing technicalities.
And so, our fears grew. If he was capable of committing such an attack unprovoked, what was next?
The Hurricane Didn’t Shut Us Down—But They Did
Several attempts were made to get some semblance of reassurance from law enforcement.
On the same night of the incident, during Francine’s arrival, we even drove 25 minutes through ongoing hurricane conditions to get to the Sheriff’s Office, only to find it closed. Hoping tomorrow would bring some resolve, we returned the next day, still nothing.
By now, desperation set in. Could anything be done? Would he finally be held accountable? We spoke to state troopers, contacted internal affairs—still, roadblocks at every turn. Even calls with the supervisor of the involved officers brought little comfort.
Every conversation—”it’s a misdemeanor,” a “self-defense” claim—was a spit in the face to victims like myself who were left physically diminished. This wasn’t the small cut on a finger; this was severe brutality met with indifference. Where is the justice in Baton Rouge when those suffering injuries from a felonious act feel left to protect themselves?
No Safety or Peace in a Place You Call Home
Hearing the repetitive responses from law enforcement officials, and knowing this brutal attacker remained free, brought sleepless nights. How could we rest not knowing what the man might do next?
When your home transforms from a safe space into a constant reminder of violence, your entire world crumbles. I heard time after time that “it’s just a misdemeanor.” But I’m left wondering how broken bones, both literal (in the facial fractures) and figuratively (in broken trust), don’t matter.
Patience with law enforcement was thin. My wife and I began playing detective, searching for local laws, discovering that the man could’ve been held at least under felony assault due to his weapon making his actions more severe. Again, there seemed to be no follow-up by investigators. How much more do they need in Baton Rouge to create a sense of public safety?
No Justice In Baton Rouge: The Eerie Silence
It’s hard to describe just how isolating it feels when systems that are supposed to work for you fail. That eerie silence punctuates every interaction with officials. As neighbors began questioning, “how could this man still be out there?” we considered just how exposed our community had become.
If the indiscretion here—the act of blatant violence—isn’t worthy of immediate protection or investigation, what chance do the rest of us have in East Baton Rouge?
Conclusion: Baton Rouge Is Failing its People
Ultimately, we are left with broken bones and broken laws. No justice in Baton Rouge for those simply wanting peace in their neighborhoods.
When our safety nets fray, and there’s no one left to act as a safeguard, it becomes apparent that law enforcement must be held accountable. Allowing someone knowingly violent and armed to walk our streets ignoring evidence is a systemic problem that needs addressing.
Until then, rest assured—hurricane or no hurricane—there’s at least one face in Baton Rouge left broken while inaction paves the way for further trespasses in our lives.
SHARE ARTICLE
Tenaj Tino
Follow us for more or please share with a friend!
