Black Officer Charged For Tasing Handcuffed Man Who Called Him Racial Slurs

Monroe, LA – A Monroe police officer who Tased a man who called him racial slurs in September has been charged with multiple felonies.

The incident occurred on Sept. 24 when 39-year-old Monroe Police Officer Timothy Miller was making an arrest in the 600-block of Standifer Avenue in Monroe, KNOE reported.

The arrest affidavit for Officer Miller said the officer had asked the suspect to get into his vehicle multiple times and the suspect refused to comply.

The suspect was trying to hand his phone to a family member when the Officer Miller pulled out his Taser and once again ordered him into the vehicle, KNOE reported.

At that point, the suspect allowed the officer to put him in the back of his vehicle.

But when Officer Miller got into the vehicle to transport the suspect, it all went sideways, KNOE reported.

Once seated inside the back of the patrol vehicle, the suspect began hurling racial epithets and slurs at Officer Miller, who is black.

That was when Officer Miller deployed his Taser at the handcuffed suspect inside the vehicle, KNOE reported.

A Monroe police supervisor observed the altercation when he reviewed the bodycam video and reported it.

Then the Monroe Police Department referred the Sept. 24 incident to the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and requested that it conduct a thorough independent investigation, KTVE reported.

Monroe Police Chief Victor Zordan placed Officer Miller on paid administrative leave on Sept. 27 while the investigation was conducted.

“Our police officers face difficult and challenging situations every time they put on the uniform and are forced to react in tense, evolving circumstances,” Chief Zordan said in a statement.

“The job is understandably difficult, but I expect nothing less than the highest levels of professionalism and integrity from our officers in the performance of their duties,” the police chief said. “I will continue to hold officers accountable to these standards and take action where necessary to ensure that those standards are met.”

Ouachita Parish sheriff’s deputies arrested Officer Miller on Oct. 29, KTVE reported.

He was charged with aggravated battery and malfeasance in office and booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center.

The mayor released a statement after the arrest, KTVE reported.

“I support the hard work and dedication of our officers who devote their lives to ensuring the safety of ours, but I expect all officers to operate within the bounds of the law,” Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis said. “When officers step outside those bounds, they, like any other citizen, will be held accountable.”