St. Martinville deputy chief accused of threatening residents | Crime/Police

The deputy chief of the St. Martinville Police Department has been placed on leave after being accused of threatening a resident, according to a news outlet.

Cody Laperouse was removed from his position and placed on administrative leave following the Aug. 26 incident, Police Chief Ricky Mark told KLFY.

The incident occurred after Laperouse entered the department to speak with a man who allegedly had ties to an investigation into the deputy chief's mother. Chief Martin told KLFY that Laperouse tried to attack the man but was restrained by officers.

Laperouse is a former Iberia Parish Sheriff's Deputy. According to previous reports, Laperouse was sentenced to one day in jail and one year of supervised release in 2015 after a video surfaced in 2013 of him attacking a handcuffed man. He was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine, complete 200 hours of community service and take anger management classes.

Laperouse would plead guilty to a misdemeanor of depriving a man of his civil rights through the use of excessive force. According to KLFY, he began working as a patrol officer for the St. Martinville Police Department in 2015 after serving his conviction.

The attack occurred in 2013 at the Sugar Cane Festival in New Iberia. Laperouse and other deputies attempted to disperse the crowd at a street party on Hopkins Street. Laperouse was captured on cell phone video attacking Christopher Butler, who was handcuffed.

Laperouse was fired from the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office following an internal investigation.

Chief Martin told KLFY that he would recommend Laperouse's termination. The recommendation will be considered by the St. Martinville City Council on Monday, October 7th.