The Baton Rouge Police Department is facing serious allegations of abuse and torture after a grandmother, Ternell L. Brown, filed a lawsuit claiming that she was detained and humiliated by officers in an unmarked warehouse known as the "Brave Cave." According to the lawsuit, Ms. Brown was pulled over by officers on June 10, along with her husband, for reasons that remain unclear. She was then forcibly transported to the warehouse, where she alleges she was stripped and cavity searched. The lawsuit identifies the officers involved as Troy Lawrence Jr. and Matthew Wallace, with a female officer also being involved.

The lawsuit further states that Ms. Brown was held at the warehouse for over two hours before being released without being charged. It is worth noting that Officer Lawrence, who has an extensive record of injuring members of the public, resigned from the Baton Rouge Police Department on August 29. He was later charged with battery in connection with a separate incident on August 8, where he allegedly used a stun gun on a handcuffed male subject before he could comply with verbal orders.

The warehouse in question, which was operated by the Street Crimes Unit of the Baton Rouge Police Department, has been closed in recent weeks after similar allegations of abuse came to light. As a result, the FBI has launched a civil rights investigation into the matter, stating that it is based on "allegations that members of the department may have abused their authority." The Baton Rouge Police Department has confirmed the FBI investigation and has initiated both administrative and criminal investigations into the allegations. Furthermore, the department has disbanded and reassigned the Street Crimes Unit.

The allegations made by Ms. Brown are not isolated incidents. Another lawsuit filed on August 29 claims that Officers Lawrence and Wallace, along with another officer named Joseph Carboni, severely beat a 21-year-old man named Jeremy Lee. The lawsuit alleges that Mr. Lee was arrested without reasonable suspicion or probable cause and was then beaten by the officers. They allegedly kicked and punched him, causing visible injuries and a fractured rib.

These incidents add to the growing list of misconduct allegations against the Baton Rouge Police Department. In 2016, the department faced scrutiny after the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old Black man. Additionally, the department violated its own policy when officers strip-searched a teenager in 2021. An internal investigation of the department's narcotics unit also led to criminal charges and internal discipline for the officers involved.

In response to the allegations, the Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into the Baton Rouge Police Department. The FBI, along with experienced prosecutors and agents, is currently reviewing the allegations of abuse and misconduct. Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy J. Paul Jr. has met with FBI officials and requested their assistance to ensure an independent review of the complaints.

Mayor Sharon Weston Broome announced the permanent closure of the “Brave Cave” in late August, along with the disbanding of the Street Crimes Unit. However, it remains unclear if the officers involved in these cases are currently facing any disciplinary actions. The Baton Rouge Police Department and the Southern States Police Benevolent Association have not responded to questions regarding this matter.

The lawsuit filed by Ms. Brown claims that the officers switched off their body cameras and searched her without a warrant, probable cause, or consent. The lawsuit argues that the officers were not acting as rogue officers but were rather carrying out official Baton Rouge Police Department policy. The warehouse, known as the "Brave Cave," was not a jail or detention facility but was instead adopted as the home base of the Street Crimes Unit, where suspects were taken to be interrogated and attempt to gather intelligence.

The allegations made by Ms. Brown and other victims are deeply troubling and raise significant concerns about misconduct within the Baton Rouge Police Department. The ongoing investigations by the FBI and the Justice Department will hopefully shed light on the extent of the abuse and ensure accountability for those involved.