Spring & Spring, LLC

Attorneys at Law Litigators Not Negotiators

Stanley A. Spring, Esq. - Florida Bar S. Stephen Spring, II, Esq. - Louisiana Bar 733 East Airport Avenue, Suite 104 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806 Telephone: 225-932-9671 Facsimile: 413-451-8923 Email: springlaw@gmail.com Web: www.springlaw.net

Spring & Spring LLC Communications House Mayfair London W1U 6PZ
Spring & Spring LLC Communications House Mayfair London W1U 6PZ

John S. Penton, Jr., Esq. - Florida Bar * David Mahdavi, Esq. - Virginia. Bar * Julie S. Page, Esq. - California Bar * * Of Counsel Member Wash. D.C.: 202-465-4696 Miami, FL: 305-677-3847 London: 44-208-181-6545 U.K. Fax: 44-208-181-6545

2 August 2012 (Transmitted by Hand Delivery) Honorable Michael Harson District Attorney 15th JDC 800 South Buchannan Street Lafayette, Louisiana 70502 337.232.5170 (voice) 337.235.1354 (facsimile) Re: Possible Investigation by Your Office Lafayette Police Department

Dear Mr. Harson: We are pleased to have been retained to represent a number of courageous Lafayette Police Department officers. In connection with our representation, it has come to our attention that matters have occurred within the Lafayette Police Department which may be of interest to your office since our knowledge of criminal law is obviously surpassed by yours. On July 12, 2012, a grand jury indicted the Mayor and Chief of Police of Springfield, Louisiana, alleging that these gentlemen attempted to cover up an alleged OWI infraction by one of Springfields citizens. We have attached, as Exhibit A, a copy of the press release issued by Channel 2, WRBZ in Baton Rouge. That case is being prosecuted by David Caldwell in the Louisiana Attorney Generals Office. As a result of the revelation of this indictment, we are providing you with a Mandamus action which we have found necessary to file on behalf of our clients seeking public

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records which were not provided to our clients pursuant to a lawful public records request. This Petition for Mandamus contains in its exhibits a copy of the original 911 recording from the University of Louisiana McDonalds. In addition, we obtained a tape recording of Chief James Craft and other members of his department discussing the incident in which a member of the LPD was alleged to have been so intoxicated that he was visibly incoherent while slumped over the steering wheel of his personal vehicle with the key in the ignition and engine running. These audio files can be reviewed at the following internet addresses: http://realcopsvcraft.com/Audio/911call.mp3 and http://realcopsvcraft.com/Audio/2012jan18.mp3, respectively. The particulars of this event are described in detail in the Mandamus Petition we have filed this day. In conducting our investigation of this matter on behalf of our clients, we received first hand information that from the initial report of this incident, active steps were taken to cover up this entire matter. Rather than request an administrative (i.e. Internal Affairs) investigation, Major Randy Vincent of the LPD, ostensibly acting upon instruction of Chief James Craft, ordered a shift level investigation from the scene of the incident. Rather than order any citations to the officer, Captain Randy Vincent ordered he be taken home while another subordinate officer properly parked the alleged intoxicated officers car. The alleged intoxicated officer did not properly park his vehicle in the parking lot of the McDonalds. We obtained information that the telephone calls documenting Major Vincent ordering Lt. Nolvey Stelly NOT to call Internal Affairs are routinely recorded and archived. Despite our public records request this recording was NOT PROVIDED. Our information also discloses that a summons was issued to the owner of the City Bar, located in Lafayette across the street from Dwyers restaurant, for remaining open past mandatory closing time and providing a number of police officers (including the alleged intoxicated officer) with free booze. The summons alleging a violation of Lafayette City Ordinance 4-96 was refused by the City Prosecutors office directed by Mr. Gary Haynes, City Prosecutor. Although we have established through our investigation that at least one African American officer in an unrelated incident not involving alleged intoxication was given seven (7) days suspension without pay for a minor automobile accident in which a mail box was damaged, Chief James Craft ordered the offending alleged intoxicated white officer to sustain one (1) day suspension without pay. In addition, a number of officers involved were reported to be less than truthful to the assigned Investigator which can sustain immediate termination of job under the Lafayette Consolidated Governments policies and procedures manual. These officers

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received no discipline whatsoever. In fact, in an apparent effort to completely cover up this matter, Chief Craft ordered the less than truthful officer participation to be called a training issue. As a result of all of the above, we are requesting on behalf of our clients that your office conduct an independent investigation of this entire episode. Premised upon Exhibit A attached hereto, we believe this matter to be of great public concern and susceptible to further investigation by your office. In the event that your office may wish to request this matter be handled by the Louisiana Attorney Generals Office, we know from our investigation of the matter contained in Exhibit A that Mr. David Caldwell, Esq. of the Generals office is handling that prosecution. Thank you for your consideration. Extending you the kindest, professional courtesies we remain Sincerely yours, Very Sincerely Yours, Spring & Spring, LLC Attorneys at Law S. Stephen Spring, II S. Stephen Spring, II Attorney at Law SSS:tbh Enclosures: As stated Law Office of J. Christopher Alexander, Sr., LLC Attorney and Counselor at Law Christopher J. Christopher Alexander, Sr. J. Christopher Alexander, Sr. Attorney at Law