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BATON ROUGE - The embattled head of a state agency tasked with regulating private security in Louisiana was fired during a special meeting of the agency's board Tuesday and packed up his office Thursday morning.
Fabian Blache III was removed from his role as leader of the Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners by a 5-3 vote. Blache had been on leave for over a month pending a state investigation into misconduct allegations.
Blache was accused of repeatedly harassing an employee who formerly worked as an exotic dancer at a club he frequented. After hiring her, the woman alleged Blache made several sexual advances and threatened her job if she didn't comply.
"... on numerous occasions Mr. Blache 'reminded' her she was unclassified, that she served at his pleasure, and, as a single mother with a profoundly disable child, would be unable to find employment elsewhere," the formal complaint read in part.
Other documents obtained by the WBRZ Investigative Unit allege Blache hired a woman who did no work for the agency but was engaged to his brother and having an affair with his wife.
He's also accused of using public funds to take his wife on a trip to Africa. Blache wrote a personal check to reimburse the cost of his wife's ticket, but there was a note attached to the check in his personnel file saying that Blache did not give permission to cash it.
Blache has denied any wrongdoing.
SHREVEPORT – A federal grand jury in northern Louisiana indicted a disgraced Louisiana State Trooper in yet another blow to the agency facing harsh criticism over its handling of troopers’ violent interactions with minorities, specifically African Americans.
WBRZ reporter Chris Nakamoto and the WBRZ Investigative Unit have reported on issues throughout the year, including breaking numerous stories related to the death of Ronald Greene in the Monroe area.
Thursday, Jacob Brown was indicted for excessive force against Aaron Bowman. WBRZ has previously reported Bowman was hit numerous times with some sort of object during a traffic stop in May 2019.
Brown is the son of the former second-in-command at State Police, Bob Brown.
WBRZ exclusively reported in February, when the younger Brown was in the State Police academy, trainers thought he was not fit for duty. Brown, it’s believed, was allowed to skate through the academy because of his family connections.
Chris Nakamoto reported in February, Jacob Brown was recommended for termination for lying during the troopers’ academy.
The grand jury indictment Thursday is related to Brown’s interaction with Bowman.
Brown is charged with violating a federal civil rights code: Deprivation of rights under color of law.
The grand jury said Brown assaulted Bowman by “repeatedly striking him in the head and body with a dangerous weapon.” The “weapon,” the grand jury said, was a modified flashlight with a blunt end.
Brown resigned from State Police in March after first begging to stay on the payroll.
If convicted, Brown faces ten years in prison and a fine.
Federal agents also added pointedly – it is not done with State Police. There are federal criminal investigations into incidents involving troopers where people being arrested were severely injured or ended up dying.
In August, video surfaced of the incident between Brown and Bowman – watch it here (discretion advised).
Brown is also charged in other excessive force incidents.
Brown’s father, Bob Brown, retired after former State Police Col. Kevin Reeves abruptly retired amid backlash over the agency’s handling of Bowman’s case and others, including Ronald Green’s death. WBRZ reported at the time, the elder Brown had also been disciplined before for misconduct. In one instance, Bob Brown used a racial term in a conversation about a person’s intelligence: "I don't understand how those 'n******' could pass this test. They're not smarter than us," State Police disciplinary documents noted Bob Brown said in April 2000.
Bob Brown also “admitted that [he] hung a Confederate flag in [his] office behind the door."
Jacob Brown, the younger son who was indicted Thursday, reportedly joked about beating someone in an excessive force incident.
“He gonna be sore tomorrow for sure,” Brown messaged someone.
State Police has attempted to keep the lid on incidents over the years only to have WBRZ and Nakamoto sources leak documents exposing issues within the agency. It’s also irritated troopers’ attorneys, including one hired by the Brown family.
"Mr. Brown was arrested [in March], and before we reached the jail WBRZ was already reporting the arrest," attorney Scott Wolleson said. "Christopher Hollingsworth was suspended and received notice he was going to be terminated. I was involved in that. As we know there were 17 seconds of audio released to WBRZ that has now been quoted in national news around the country."
Jacob Brown was assigned to Monroe’s Troop F, which is under specific investigation for racial discrimination.
More WBRZ and Chris Nakamoto reporting:
Disgraced trooper exposed by WBRZ wants to stay on payroll, demands investigation into LSP leaks
Nakamoto: Racist behavior under investigation at State Police; internal documents show it dates back decades
NAKAMOTO: Disgraced state trooper resigns after excessive force arrests, joked about beatings
NAKAMOTO: Leaked training documents show arrested La. trooper lacked 'core values' to be state policeman
PORT ALLEN - On Tuesday morning, one of two juveniles tied to a deadly shooting outside of a bar over the weekend has been identified as 17-year-old Ronald Campbell.
Campbell, now charged with second-degree murder has been booked into West Baton Rouge Parish Prison as of Tuesday.
A second juvenile was arrested but is not accused in the attack. Instead, Deondra Lagarde was staying at Campbell's house and has been wanted since April.
Campbell is accused of the deadly shooting at the bar, and investigators said the Lagarde was at the bar and is accused of shooting a pregnant woman in the head in Plaquemine on April 9, 2021.The WBRZ Investigative Unit confirmed through sources the victim shot in the parking lot of Raxx bar is 21-year old Trey Allen, a beloved baseball coach for PC Tigers in Pointe Coupee Parish.
The team posted, “We ask for prayers as we mourn the loss of our beloved coach Trey Allen. He was such a huge part of our lives on and off the baseball field. His big heart, contagious smile and short shorts will forever be missed.”
Following the shooting, District Attorney Tony Clayton asked State Alcohol Tobacco Control Commissioner Ernest Legier to suspend operations at Raxx until an investigation could take place amid ongoing questions about how the juveniles managed to get inside. Legier told WBRZ, his office has pulled the alcohol permit for Raxx bar where the deadly shooting occurred.
“ATC can serve an emergency suspension for public safety concerns,” Legier said.
By law, a hearing will be held within 10 days. The hearing for the Raxx bar is scheduled for October.
The gunfire happened outside the bar, following an altercation in the parking lot. Allen was trying to break up a fight, sources said.
District Attorney Tony Clayton said when investigators went to look for the 17-year old involved in the shooting, they found another juvenile at his house that they had been looking for since April. Through their investigation, they determined that juvenile was responsible for shooting a pregnant woman in the head and was actually partying at Raxx with the 17-year old shooter the night Trey Allen was killed.
“Seventeen-year-olds shooting folks in the head, 17-year-olds murdering folks... I'm sorry state of Louisiana you have to arm law enforcement,” Clayton said. “You have to give us something to fight. These young folks at 17 years of age arming themselves with guns and sucking the life out of folks aren't acting like kids. They are acting like adults. I think they should be tried as adults, and under my watch they will be.”
Monday morning, Clayton said decisions were made to try both juveniles as adults. Over the weekend, there was no state facility in Louisiana that could take them so they had to be transferred to Alabama. With decisions being made about them being tried as an adult, both will be brought back to Louisiana and booked into the Iberville and West Baton Rouge Parish jails.
“We will convene a grand jury immediately over the activities that took place that night that caused that kid to lose his life,” Clayton said. “We will get to the bottom line of the operations of that club and the events that led this man to lose his life, just senseless for no reason.”
The teen accused of killing Allen will be charged with second-degree murder. The teen accused of shooting the pregnant woman in the head in April will be charged with attempted second-degree murder.
Clayton said he's been asking for months for reforms to our juvenile justice laws. He said this case highlights the need for reforms yet again.
"I say and I make a plea to the legislators of Louisiana, you have to revise the rules in this state that deal with juveniles," Clayton said. "To not have sister parishes accept these juveniles and the only avenue is for me to go to Alabama when a juvenile kills someone or send them home with an ankle bracelet is ridiculous."
Comment from Cy J. D’Aquila, Jr., attorney for Raxx Bar and Grill:
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the Allen family during this tragic time. However, since this case is being investigated, we cannot comment on the facts. Raxx is doing everything in their power to aid the District Attorney in this investigation so that justice can be served for Trey Allen," attorney for Raxx Bar and Grill, Cy J. D’Aquila, Jr., said Sept. 21.
A public meeting will be held next month where the owners of Raxx night club can plead their case involving the suspension of their alcohol permit.
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