Investigation Launched After New Orleans Police Officer Allegedly Shoved High School Student During Mardi Gras Parade
The New Orleans Police Department officer who has been accused of pushing a high school senior marching band member during the Muses parade during Mardi Gras parade has also been accused of payroll fraud.
According to WDSU, Alfred Russell has maintained that the claims of fraud are false, but has since been removed from duty following the Muses parade.
Videos of the Krewe Of Muses parade on Feb. 15 when Brandon Mitchell was allegedly shoved by an NOPD officer have surfaced. Mitchell was playing the horn for L.B. Landry High when it happened. He told WDSU that the experience was humiliating for him but he tried to conduct himself with poise and respect because, as homecoming king of his school and a section leader in the band, he has always been “taught to think about how his actions will impact others.”
He urged others to do the same. Mitchell said, “I feel like I have stuff going on for myself that I would rather not lose.”
The video of the incident showed the aftermath of the push, where Mitchell, another student, and Russell were arguing while the rest of the marching band and parade-goers watched in shock.
Algiers Charter School district later released a statement commending their students for how they handled the situation.
“We at Algiers Charter are deeply disappointed by the incident captured in the video, depicting an NOPD Officer pushing an L. B. Landry Student and member of the Marching Pride of Algiers Band Unit,” the statement read.
It continued, “However, we commend our students for their restraint and refusal to engage in negative behavior. This incident underscores the importance of the conflict resolution lessons we impart to our students.”
The school revealed that it would monitor the investigation into the NOPD officer’s actions.
School leaders wrote, “We will initiate a meeting with the NOPD to address this matter promptly. Such behavior does not reflect the standards we expect from law enforcement officers, nor is it the conduct we anticipate our young students to encounter from authorities. Respect for authority and appropriate conduct remain core values we instill in our students.”
The school assured, “NOPD PIB has already initiated an investigation and has assured us the process will be followed.”
NOPD confirmed to WDSU that the department’s Public Integrity Bureau is actively investigating the incident and was alarmed by the parade footage.
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