In a shocking turn of events, the scandal-plagued Baton Rouge Police Department has arrested four of its own officers, including a deputy chief, on charges of attempting to cover up excessive force during a strip search. The arrests come as the department faces intensifying scrutiny, with the FBI opening a civil rights investigation into allegations of officers assaulting detainees in a warehouse known as the "brave cave."

The arrested officers, identified as Corp. Douglas Chustz, Deputy Chief Troy Lawrence, Sr., Corp. Todd Thomas, and Sgt. Jesse Barcelona, face multiple charges, including malfeasance, theft, and obstruction. They were part of the same street crimes unit that operated the warehouse, which has since been disbanded. Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul emphasized the department's zero-tolerance policy for misconduct or unethical behavior during a news conference.

The allegations against the officers stem from numerous lawsuits that accuse the Street Crimes Unit of the Baton Rouge Police Department of abusing drug suspects at a recently closed narcotics processing center. The FBI has launched an investigation into these allegations, with experienced prosecutors and agents reviewing the claims of authority abuse by department members.

One case under FBI scrutiny involves a man who claims he was taken to the warehouse and severely beaten before being booked into jail. Another lawsuit, filed by Ternell Brown, alleges that she was unlawfully strip-searched by police officers after being pulled over while driving with her husband. The officers allegedly found prescription pills in her possession and, without her consent or a warrant, took her to the "brave cave" for a strip search. Brown was released without being charged with a crime.

Attorney Ryan Keith Thompson, representing Brown, called the incident “unconscionable” and stated that it should never happen in America. The Baton Rouge Police Chief revealed that the findings announced on Friday were related to an attempted strip search in September 2020, during which two officers from the street crimes unit allegedly hit a suspect and used stun guns on him. The incident was captured by body-worn cameras, which the officers were unaware were turned on. They later attempted to dispose of the video after a supervisor determined excessive force had been used.

The arrests of the Baton Rouge officers have raised concerns about the potential impact on criminal cases. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore stated that hundreds of cases could be jeopardized due to the involvement of the four arrested officers. He emphasized the need to review each case individually to determine if the officers' roles were crucial and if the cases can still be proved without them.

This latest development comes after a second lawsuit was filed against the Baton Rouge Police Department, alleging abuse by BRAVE officers. The lawsuit mentioned the case of a 47-year-old grandmother named Ternell Brown, who stated that she was taken to a "torture warehouse" after officers found prescription medication in her car during a traffic stop. Brown claimed that she was forced to demonstrate that she was not hiding contraband in her body before being released without any charges.

The investigation into the “Brave Cave” and the actions of the Baton Rouge Police Department continues, with Chief Murphy Paul expressing cooperation with the FBI. The department has initiated nine administrative investigations in response to the allegations of abuse and misconduct. The arrest of the four officers serves as a stark reminder that no one is above the law, even within law enforcement agencies.