Civil rights attorney Katie Schwartzmann has fired off a letter to Public Integrity Bureau Chief Arlinda Westbrook; Independent Police Monitor, Susan Hutson; and Jonathan Aronie, lead monitor of the Federal Police Consent Decree office.
The letter claims the NOPD used rubber bullets during a standoff with protesters on the Crescent City Connection Wednesday night.
Last Thursday, WWL First News reported, NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson denied using rubber bullets and said an investigation is underway.
Before the incident, the crowd faced off with NOPD Police in riot gear, demanding to cross the bridge and bring their protest to Jefferson Parish and the Sheriff’s Office in Gretna.
At one point the protesters pushed through the billet line and were about to pour through when tear gas was released and the majority of protesters retreated.
Some protesters claimed the department unleashed rubber bullets.
Schwartzmann provided pictures of a spent bullet, called a sponge grenade, and a wound where a bullet allegedly hit one person and the bruised chest of another person.
“I am deeply concerned that the material in my possession is only the tip of the iceberg,” Schwartzmann said told WWL-TV. “I want to add my voice to the voices of others who have been calling on the NOPD for days to be honest about what happened.”
“They have failed to tell the public — and you — the truth,” read the letter. “It defies explanation that the highest levels of our department would mislead the public about what weapons were used by our police force.”
“Perhaps more discouraging is the NOPD public reaction to questions by the public, which was to flatly deny the truth,” Schwartzmann stated.