Updated Thursday, April 3, 8:45 p.m. EDT:
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office released a statement late Thursday regarding the arrest of Donrell Breaux. According to the statement, the officer was responding to a call from a neighbor who claimed that a black male was cursing at him, his wife and his children, even when asked to stop. The unnamed neighbor said that he felt threatened by this and called 911. He also said that he wanted to press charges against the male subject, who was cursing, and added that he could smell marijuana.
When the officer arrived at the scene, he asked for identification from Breaux. The officer confirmed that he, too, could smell marijuana. From the statement:
As the officer walked with Breaux towards the door he told him he was under arrest. As the officer followed him into the doorway with his handcuffs in hand, Breaux attempted to close the door on the officer. The officer continued into the home where a brief struggle ensued. The officer did in fact tell the suspect he was under arrest for resisting an officer, as indicated in the video. Breaux was eventually placed in handcuffs and taken into custody.
There is no indication that charges against Breaux—which include disturbing the peace, battery of an officer and resisting arrest—were dropped.
The statement also listed some arrests from Breaux's police records, which include "terroristic threats and acts" at a school, distribution and possession of marijuana and reckless conduct.
Earlier:
It's hard to watch.
In the video, 26-year-old Donrell Breaux can be seen pleading with the officer to tell him why he is being arrested, his voice shaking as he tells his friend, who is recording, that he is scared.
According to the Times-Picayune, Breaux is now saying he is a victim of an unlawful arrest by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy. According to Breaux, the arrest was because of a neighbor with whom he was having a disagreement.
"I knew [the deputy] was a personal friend [of the neighbor]," Breaux told the Times-Picayune, "…and I thought it was an unlawful arrest. I don't have to submit to an unlawful arrest."
The incident apparently occurred on Sunday and was posted by Breaux's friend Eric Banegas to Facebook on Tuesday.
The two young men were allegedly standing on Banegas' front porch talking and cracking jokes, admittedly using swear words.
"It wasn't to the point that we were loud and disturbing people," Breaux said. That was when the neighbor approached, telling them to watch their language. The neighbor then said he was going to call the police.
"He threatens to call the police all the time about stuff in the backyard and stuff going on inside the house. Things like there's too many cars in the driveway," Breaux added.
Soon the deputy showed up and started demanding ID, grabbing Breaux and telling him he was under arrest. That was when Banegas started recording.
In the 2:30 minute video, the officer can be seen pushing his way into the house even as Breaux asks repeatedly what he is being arrested for. The unnamed officer eventually pushes Breaux into his friend's home and onto the couch, attempting to restrain him. On camera the officer never tells Breaux why he is being restrained.
At one point Banegas turns around to look for help but Breaux calls him back.
"I am scared, son," Breaux tells Banegas in the video, asking him not to leave with the camera.
Later on he begs the officer not to shoot him, as the officer fiddles with the belt around his waist.
According to Breaux, the person who appears toward the end of the video is another officer, with the East Jefferson Levee District Department, who has been seen at the neighbor's house in the past.
"These are personal friends," Breaux told the news site. "I wish I had friends that I could call and have them handle personal vendettas that I have with my neighbors."
Breaux did end up in custody and booked with resisting arrest with violence, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and battery of an officer, the Times-Picayune notes.
The Sheriff's Office has yet to make a comment about the incident.
Breaux is seeking legal action but admits to having trouble getting the money to hire an attorney.
"I'm pretty pissed about the situation," he said. "I feel this is wrong because they do this all the time and nobody ever has it on video. I feel it's a problem with the police and people not knowing their rights."
See video of the incident below:
Read more at the Times-Picayune.