White Opelousas Police Sgt Convicted for Brutally Attacking Black Teen Restrained to a Hospital Bed. Jury Found Cop Repeatedly Punched and Used Chokehold on Teen, who was Not Under Arrest or a Suspect
/From [HERE] A white Opelousas police officer might face jail time after he was convicted Tuesday on three counts of malfeasance in connection with a 2019 attack on a Black teenager who was restrained in an emergency room hospital bed.
Tyron Andrepont, 50, now awaits a sentencing date following a court-ordered pre-sentence investigation that will probably occur sometime during the next six months.
Andrepont tried to resign, but the City Council rejected his resignation. Then, in July 2020, the council voted to terminate him after Louisiana State Police investigators determined from hospital camera footage that Andrepont allegedly used “excessive force” in handling Jonah Coleman, a patient at Opelousas General Hospital. [MORE]
The teenager was not a suspect in a crime or in police custody.
St. Landry Parish Assistant District Attorney Katie Ryan, who was the lead prosecutor for the two-day jury before retired District Judge Ronnie Cox, said during an interview that each count of malfeasance against Andrepont carries a maximum sentence of five years, with or without hard labor.
Flora Coleman, mother of Jonah Coleman, spoke to reporters after the trial and said she hopes Andrepont will never work again as a police officer.
A hospital surveillance camera filmed as Opelousas Police Sgt. Tyron Andrepont repeatedly struck and applied a choke hold to a restrained black teenager in October 2019, court documents said. He attacked the teenager on 3 separate occasions.
On Oct. 30, Andrepont responded to Opelousas General Hospital’s south campus, where 18-year-old Jonah Coleman was receiving treatment in the hospital’s emergency room. Coleman had been taken to the hospital by his family at the request of his parents and was not in police custody, McLendon and the teen's attorney said.
Louisiana State Police Investigator Mark Fournet reported footage from Coleman’s treatment room in the hospital’s emergency facility showed the teenager tried to get out of bed several times [which is not illegal]
At time stamp 7:18, Andrepont rushed toward Coleman, struck him in the face with his right hand and Coleman’s head snapped back. Andrepont reached for Coleman again but didn’t make contact, then pushed down on Coleman’s neck and upper chest before putting his hand on Coleman’s neck and pushing him away, the affidavit said.
At time stamp 7:37, Andrepont grabbed Coleman’s right leg and pushed his leg up and toward Coleman’s head. Five minutes later, Andrepont put his right hand on Coleman’s neck, pushing his head down. He maintained his hold on Colemna’s neck, according to court documents. At 8:32, Andrepont grabbed Coleman’s neck with his right hand and pushed his head down while maintaining “his hold on Jonah’s neck.” At 9:51, Fournet reported that Andrepont put his right arm around Coleman’s neck in a choke hold, the documents said.
Finally, at 10:18 p.m., Andrepont “held the handcuff that was still attached to Jonah’s right wrist and pulled it to the rear, extending Jonah’s arm.”
After reviewing Fournet’s report and the video, St. Landry Parish District Attorney’s Investigator J. Rene Speyrer wrote: “It is my opinion that Sgt. Tyron Andrepont, working as an officer with the Opelousas Police Department, committed several acts of battery on Jonah Shyheem Coleman Jr….”
The six-person trial jury deliberated for three and a half hours on Tuesday. In addition to the conviction on three of the malfeasance charges, jurors also concluded that Andrepont was not guilty on another malfeasance charge. The jury additionally indicated that they could reach no decision on another charge of malfeasance against Andrepont.
Court records contained in the bill of information indicate the malfeasance charges contain separate allegations that Andrepont at some point during the incident placed Coleman in a chokehold, struck or slapped Coleman in the face and restrained Coleman by using arms and elbows.
Defense attorney Kevin Stockstill said after the verdict that Andrepont, who did not testify, does not plan to seek further employment in law enforcement. At the time of his arrest, KATC Investigates turned up several cases in which Andrepont was disciplined while a member of Opelousas Police. To read that story, click here.