LAFAYETTE, LA. (KLFY) — The Lafayette Police Department has launched an internal investigation after video surfaced online showing a police officer slamming a 16-year-old male to the ground during an arrest.
In the video shared on social media, the officer approaches the teenager after the youth tells a friend not to say anything. The officer orders the 16-year-old to turn around before slamming him to the ground, arresting him and escorting him to a police vehicle.
According to sources close to the teenager, they tell KLFY News 10, the teen claims he was wrongfully arrested for exercising his First Amendment rights. The 16-year-old claims the arrest occurred after he told his friend not to speak without a parent or lawyer present…