A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a woman who claimed she was falsely arrested during a protest in Lafayette in 2020. Tara Fogleman-Laxey alleged that her arrest at a “BBQ protest” outside the home of Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory violated her constitutional rights.
Fogleman-Laxey organized the protest following the fatal shooting of Trayford Pelleri by Lafayette police officers. She was arrested and charged with obstruction of a public passageway and disturbing the peace after refusing to end the protest. Those charges were later dropped.
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U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. dismissed the lawsuit against all defendants, including Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber, Mayor-President Guillory, former Interim Police Chief Scott Morgan, District Attorney Donald Landry, and Lafayette Consolidated Government.
Judge Hicks ruled that Fogleman-Laxey failed to provide sufficient evidence to support her claims of false arrest, false imprisonment, excessive force, and other violations. He also stated that her allegations of unlawful policies and practices were “merely conclusory and speculative.”
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The judge concluded that there was probable cause for Fogleman-Laxey’s arrest and that the officials involved were entitled to qualified immunity.
This ruling marks the end of a legal battle that began in 2020.
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