Caught on cellphone video repeatedly punching a man in the face, a Louisiana police officer was recently fired after an internal investigation. Last year, the Baton Rouge police officer was suspended for using profanity often during traffic stops.
Recorded on April 7, a cellphone video captured Officer Marshall McDermitt confronting Mark C. Patterson, 21, after an employee at Reggie’s bar near LSU reported Patterson for refusing to leave the bar and allegedly fighting bouncers. As McDermitt attempted to slam Patterson to the ground at the start of the video, the suspect remained standing without fighting back against the officer.
After another man wrapped his arm around Patterson’s neck, McDermitt punched Patterson’s exposed face at least 10 times. Before the video began recording, Patterson’s face was already covered in blood, but McDermitt clearly caused more damage. During the video, Patterson never appeared to defend himself or fight back.
Patterson was charged with disturbing the peace, public intoxication, resisting an officer, and battery on an officer. He was issued a summons at the scene but had not been booked into the parish prison.
On Thursday, Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) spokesman Sgt. L’Jean McKneely Jr. announced that McDermitt was fired after an internal investigation into his conduct on April 7. According to Sgt. McKneely, McDermitt violated BRPD’s policies on use of force, truthfulness, conduct unbecoming, carrying out orders, and falsification of documents.
McKneely did not disclose the details of how McDermitt violated the department’s policies.
Last year, BRPD Chief Murphy Paul Jr. suspended McDermitt for two days after the department reviewed several hours from the officer’s body camera footage. According to Chief Paul, McDermitt violated department policy by needlessly threatening civilians and incessantly using profanity during traffic stops throughout 2017 and 2018.
McDermitt does not currently face any criminal charges.
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