BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – A Baton Rouge family is still demanding answers after officers raided their home last week looking for a man they say they’ve never met.
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections has since issued a statement explaining the raid, but the family’s attorney says the explanation raises even more questions.
Attorney Ryan Thompson represents Ireisha Mouton and her family. He said they were asleep when officers stormed into the home with guns drawn and red laser beams pointed at family members, including seven children.
“I’m beyond frustrated at this point. I’m infuriated,” Thompson said.
A spokesperson for the department said officers with the Probation and Parole Office were attempting to serve an arrest warrant for a man currently on probation supervision named Joshua Westley. According to public records, Westley’s last provided address matches Mouton’s current residence.
However, Mouton and her family say they have no connection to Westley and have never heard of him.
Thompson said the family has been renting the home for about five months. He believes officers violated the family’s constitutional rights.
“We’re American citizens, and under the Constitution, we should be free from unconstitutional searches, seizures, and arrests. What I saw was definitely unconstitutional, it was definitely humiliating, and it was definitely inhumane,” Thompson said.
Thompson also challenged the department’s claim that a male inside the home gave officers permission to enter.
“That is absolutely not true, and someone is trying to cover their behinds,” he said.
Court records show the warrant officers were acting on was issued in July 2024, which is nearly a year before the raid.
Thompson is questioning whether the warrant was still valid and whether officers attempted other means to verify if the suspect still lived there.
“As you can see from the warrant, it was almost a year old. So, I question whether it was still valid. But for someone to come in the night, with red beams, without any kind of verification if that person lives there, almost a year later, it’s inexcusable,” Thompson said.
Thompson said the family is seeking accountability and an apology. He also said a lawsuit against the responding agencies is likely.
“Oftentimes, individuals see me and think I’m just going after law enforcement. That’s not the case. This should be said to law enforcement: I’m with you when you’re right, and I’m with you when you’re wrong. But if you’re wrong, I’m going to help you get right,” Thompson said.
Thompson said he is still waiting to learn why it took nearly a year for the agency to act on the warrant.
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