Parish: St. Tammany
Police Department: St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office
The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana and Reid Collins & Tsai LLP are representing Teliah C. Perkins and her son, De’Shaun Johnson, in a civil rights action against two deputies from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Ms. Perkins’ complaint describes how, on May 5, 2020, she was violently tackled, pinned, and arrested on the driveway of her own home for a minor traffic violation that she did not commit.
Deputies Kyle Hart and Ryan Moring first drove to Ms. Perkins’ residential street in response to an anonymous complaint of someone operating a motorcycle in a dangerous manner. After extended questioning, during which Ms. Perkins assured the deputies that she had not committed any traffic violations, the deputies stormed onto Ms. Perkins’ property and arrested her. The deputies violently seized Ms. Perkins by the arms and forced her to the ground, pressing her face into the pavement and digging their knees and elbows into her back and legs. Deputy Hart in particular kept Ms. Perkins pinned to the ground and pressed his forearm into her windpipe with his entire body weight as she gasped “you’re choking me!”
Ms. Perkins’ son De’Shaun, who was 14 at the time, recorded the incident on his phone. In an unconstitutional attempt to stop the recording, Deputy Moring blocked the camera’s view of Ms. Perkins and drew his Taser, pointing it directly at the 14-year-old, who objected: “you can’t tase a child.” Deputy Moring responded: “watch me.” Since the incident, Mr. Johnson was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and received treatment as a result.
Following a ruling on a Motion for Summary Judgment and an appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, all of Ms. Perkins’ claims were dismissed, although Mr. Johnson’s claims remained.
On May 2, 2024 a jury composed of citizens of the greater New Orleans area found that Officer Ryan Moring intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon De’Shaun Johnson as he filmed the violent arrest of his mother.
During the trial, the jury heard testimony from Mr. Johnson himself, as well as Ms. Perkins, Deputy Moring, and experts on law enforcement training and standards. After nearly four hours of deliberation, the jury returned its verdict, concluding that Deputy Moring intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon Mr. Johnson during the incident.
The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office was ordered to pay Mr. Johnson $185,000 for the emotional distress he endured.
The defendant in this case is Ryan Moring, deputy with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.