A lawsuit against a Louisiana sheriff and seven deputies says deputies sat on and kept a chokehold on a shackled, obese, severely autistic 16-year-old for nine.
A lawsuit against a Louisiana sheriff and seven deputies says deputies sat on and kept a chokehold on a shackled, obese, severely autistic 16-year-old for nine.
showedthe extremely autistic youth slapping himself and his father in the
parking lot. The father and son struggle for several minutes before
Deputy Chad Pitfield intervenes.
Pitfield was off-duty but working security for the shopping center at the time
according to NOLA. After Parsa strikes Pitfield who allegedly weighs more than 300 pounds the off duty cop took the teen to the ground and sat on his lower torso.
The lawsuit described Parsa as
‘severely autistic.’ It also alleged that responding police officers knew the teen was unarmed and
obese and using excessive force. Parsa was reportedly handcuffed and restrained facedown for nine minutes. Officers allegedly did not place him in a prone position even after he calmed down.
Photo: Parsa family attorneys via WWL-TV
DESTREHAN - A couple is suing the Jefferson Parish Sheriff s Office for negligence related to the death of their severely autistic son.
The confrontation happened last January in the parking lot of a Metairie shopping center.
Video released by the family s attorney show Eric Para, 16, leaving the Laser Tag of Metairie. Eric appeared to become upset and began slapping at himself and his father. Because of his limited language skills, Eric could be self-injurious and have aggressive behaviors when he was frustrated,” Donna Lou, Eric s mother, told WWL-TV.
The station reports the lawsuit alleges deputies arrived on the scene and placed Eric face down on the ground before cuffing his hands behind his back and sitting on him for more than nine minutes. They also claim one of the deputies put the teen in a chokehold.
Attorneys say deputies restrained Eric by placing him face down on the pavement, handcuffing him behind his back and sitting on him for more than 9 minutes.