Articles

Widow seeks damages from Baldwin officers.

BALDWIN - The widow of Craig Parro, who was hot and killed by Baldwin police officers last June while they were attempting to arrest him at his home in Charenton, has filed a lawsuit against the officers, the chief of police and the town of Baldwin seeking damages for her husband's death.

The suit was filed Friday in the 16th Judicial District Court in Franklin and stems from an incident that occurred June 27, 2004, when Baldwin officers Joel Honse shot and killed Parro after he allegedly aimed a gun at him and Baldwin reserve officer Ronald Pinell while they were attempting to arrest him.

Prior to the shooting police had visited Parro's home during the week at least two to three times a day to arrest him. On some of the previous trips, parish authorities were involved.

The officers, who had two arrest warrants for Parro for attempted first degree murder and armed robbery, were cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting, despite a state police investigation that revealed a number of inconsistent findings.

The officers were alone and outside of their jurisdiction.

They lacked a search warrant.

They shut the power off to Parro's home.

They pumped pepper spray into his home to force him out. Then the officers, including Chief Gerald Minor, initially lied about their having used pepper spray.

Parro also was found with an antique pistol that was loaded with rolled up pieces of duct tape.

Lafayette attorney Clayton Burgess, who is representing Parro's widow, Tammy Parro, said none of these issues ever have been addressed.

"In my opinion, these officers had no more right to be out there than the man in the moon. They trespassed on his property. They were out there outside of their jurisdiction without proper authorities and without any consent (from the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office)," Burgess said.

Burgess said the officers also used bolt cutters to open Parro's breaker box and shut off his electricity and then pumped pepper spray into his home to drive him out.

"In a civil suit, all you can request from the court is monetary damages; however, from a practical standpoint, the Baldwin Police Department and the officers involved must improve their police procedures," Burgess said.

"They have placed people in grave risk. In my opinion they have unjustifiably killed this man. All because of gross negligence and gross mistraining, he said. "I don't think that anyone can say when they objectively look at this that these guys were not way out of bounds."

The lawsuit states Parro was killed as a result of negligent supervision, negligent training, excessive force, battery, trespassing, negligently firing a firearm and the negligent killing of Parro without provocation.

It states that Tammy Parro is seeking damages for pain and suffering and mental anguish in her husband's death.

Both Honse and Baldwin Police Chief Gerald Minor declined to comment.