The Rev. Raymond Brown, chairman of the New Orleans chapter of the National Action Network, held the press conference at New Iberia’s Bunk Johnson Park concerning the April 7 arrest of Donovan L. Jones.
Jones, 24, was charged with possession of schedule two drugs with intent to distribute and with resisting an officer. During the struggle with officers, at around 5:15 p.m. in the 1500 block of Rogers Street, Jones is believed to have swallowed a quantity of crack cocaine. Jones was taken to Iberia Medical Center after the incident, according to a sheriff’s office press release.
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“This man is innocent,” Brown said. “We have medical evidence that Mr. Jones did not have narcotics in his body, and we believe the drugs were found someplace else. It was an illegal search and seizure.”
Jones’ family declined to provide The Daily Iberian a physical copy of this medical evidence, pending approval from legal counsel.
Iberia Parish Sheriff Sid Hebert defended the actions of his deputies with respect to the April 7 incident.
“The content of the arrest reflects that there was probable cause,” Hebert said. “The court will now determine Mr. Jones’ guilt or innocence. ”
Hebert further defended the allegations that Jones swallowed the drugs, citing information from the officer’s affidavit and the official investigative report.
“By his own admission, (Jones) admitted to swallowing the drugs he had in his hand,” Hebert said. “Within proximity to him there were drugs found in a cellophane wrapper which officers believe was discarded during the attempt at detention.”
Although an attempt was made to contact Willis directly, the sheriff’s office declined requests for an interview with him.
Brown is requesting the 16th Judicial District District Attorney get involved with this case, and would like to see Willis, with respect to his sheriff’s office duties, transferred out of predominately African-American areas of New Iberia.
Brown said Willis, also known informally as “Dog,” is feared by many African American residents of New Iberia.
“He goes around terrorizing the community,” Brown said. “Some of the residents I’ve talked to say he’s very abusive and brutal.”
Hebert responded to allegations of misconduct on the part of Deputy Willis. “The case itself is being compiled and will be presented to the district attorney’s office for prosecution,” he said. “The circumstances surrounding the incident have been reviewed and the decision to prosecute, or not, will be made by the district attorney’s office. There has been no evidence to indicate improper procedure or lack of professional conduct in this case.”
Brown said fear of the police and a successful campaign against crime are incompatible.
“We hope to plan a march against fear of the police in New Iberia,” Brown said. “There needs to be a change in Iberia Parish with the sheriff’s department and the way they treat the African-American community.”
Donovan Jones and his mother, Evelyn Jones, were appreciative of the efforts made on their behalf. “I want to thank the Rev. Brown for coming out today,” Donovan said, and his mother made a statement to the same effect.


Comments
D. Hertz wrote on May 4, 2008 10:37 PM:
Why was this discussion taken off of your index? Why would a topic which has raised so many interesting discussions and which is obviously a great concern to many of us, suddenly vanish of of your website? "
Butterfinger wrote on May 3, 2008 10:31 PM:
off drugs and confussed wrote on May 2, 2008 7:57 AM:
wrong or the arrested wrong most of us dont have enough facts either way to even have a clue , but right or wrong
the officers do get drug tested on a regular basis where no welfare receipient gets tested at all thats
the biggest criminal act here "
woof wrote on May 2, 2008 1:58 AM:
Very interesting facts about "Dog" Willis and past problem with credibility. At least one jury didn't believe him in the past and found a man innocent. "
"
face it wrote on May 2, 2008 1:56 AM:
Leaving the driving to us Hertz wrote on May 1, 2008 11:03 PM:
Tiger By the tail wrote on May 1, 2008 12:37 AM:
D. Hertz wrote on Apr 30, 2008 10:37 PM:
tiger wrote on Apr 30, 2008 6:33 PM:
Chuck wrote on Apr 28, 2008 3:47 PM:
Face the music wrote on Apr 28, 2008 8:07 AM:
to D. Hertz. wrote on Apr 28, 2008 7:18 AM:
Old Time Cop wrote on Apr 28, 2008 6:50 AM:
D. Hertz wrote on Apr 27, 2008 6:12 PM:
THATS BS wrote on Apr 25, 2008 7:56 PM:
just wondering wrote on Apr 25, 2008 7:25 PM:
watch out wrote on Apr 25, 2008 7:14 PM:
Narc wrote on Apr 25, 2008 4:22 PM:
Face The Music wrote on Apr 25, 2008 1:33 PM:
He Looked Fine. He Just Looked Ashamed He He Got Caught.
"
D. Hertz wrote on Apr 25, 2008 10:55 AM:
it wont happen wrote on Apr 24, 2008 11:10 PM:
You aint seen nothing yet wrote on Apr 24, 2008 10:45 PM:
Crazy cont. wrote on Apr 24, 2008 10:32 PM:
Crazy wrote on Apr 24, 2008 10:26 PM:
stop this please wrote on Apr 24, 2008 11:40 AM:
continued.. "
omg the stupidity wrote on Apr 23, 2008 9:49 PM:
Iberia Parish Justice wrote on Apr 23, 2008 7:54 PM:
Hey Rev wrote on Apr 23, 2008 7:29 PM:
Police crime goes unpunished in Iberia Parish wrote on Apr 23, 2008 5:31 PM:
The impartial jury found Dog's victim not guilty, because they found Dog lied in his official police report and on witness stand about fire ant torture and hitting victim without cause. The jury did not believe Dog and 4 more police. Police brutality and perjury by police goes unpunished by District Attorney Phil Haney. "
mel-c wrote on Apr 23, 2008 4:08 PM:
what up with this wrote on Apr 23, 2008 4:05 PM:
Old Time Cop wrote on Apr 23, 2008 8:37 AM:
oh please wrote on Apr 23, 2008 8:24 AM:
Not important.... wrote on Apr 23, 2008 7:54 AM:
Not important... wrote on Apr 23, 2008 7:50 AM:
Hey Rev wrote on Apr 23, 2008 6:03 AM:
leave him alone wrote on Apr 22, 2008 11:20 PM:
REV. RAYMON BROWN wrote on Apr 22, 2008 5:54 PM:
anon wrote on Apr 22, 2008 2:29 PM:
Yeah Right wrote on Apr 22, 2008 6:17 AM:
Sid let the Dog out wrote on Apr 21, 2008 11:37 PM:
Very interesting facts about "Dog" Willis and past problem with credibility. At least one jury didn't believe him in the past and found a man innocent. "
lil house on prairie wrote on Apr 21, 2008 11:33 PM:
MR CLEAN wrote on Apr 21, 2008 10:27 PM:
I expect that I would have heard if Dog Face was a racist....I'm not in the habit of doing this & I may wrinkle some feathers, but I'm a good Christian and I think these accusations are false....
That's my opinion..... "
GIVE IT A REST PEOPLE wrote on Apr 21, 2008 10:13 PM:
MR CLEAN wrote on Apr 21, 2008 5:52 PM:
KUDO'S to Troy and the other deputies! wrote on Apr 21, 2008 3:33 PM:
Chuck wrote on Apr 21, 2008 3:28 PM:
c.c wrote on Apr 21, 2008 12:40 PM:
See you later dog face (troy willis) wrote on Apr 21, 2008 11:42 AM:
Bye Dog Face wrote on Apr 21, 2008 11:40 AM:
hopeful wrote on Apr 21, 2008 10:47 AM:
Innocent until proven guilty? Or... wrote on Apr 21, 2008 5:50 AM:
Dog Pound wrote on Apr 21, 2008 12:07 AM:
Change is a Comin' wrote on Apr 20, 2008 11:58 PM:
Bravo wrote on Apr 20, 2008 9:21 PM:
? wrote on Apr 20, 2008 5:24 PM:
Kenyatta Be Real wrote on Apr 20, 2008 1:17 PM:
Pug wrote on Apr 20, 2008 12:52 PM:
Deborah Donovan wrote on Apr 20, 2008 10:28 AM:
To MR. Brown wrote on Apr 20, 2008 10:13 AM:
REV. RAYMON BROWN wrote on Apr 19, 2008 7:35 PM:
bring it on wrote on Apr 19, 2008 7:02 PM:
Kevin Thibodeaux wrote on Apr 19, 2008 5:55 PM:
"
David Perez wrote on Apr 19, 2008 1:17 AM:
considered a reverend , he deserves that title as much as I should be called an astronaut. "
What a LIAR!! wrote on Apr 18, 2008 7:39 PM:
Kenyatta wrote on Apr 18, 2008 5:40 PM:
REV. RAYMON BROWN wrote on Apr 18, 2008 5:29 PM:
Kenyatta wrote on Apr 18, 2008 5:02 PM:
Don't hate. "
Kim C Spiker wrote on Apr 18, 2008 2:47 PM:
Lynn wrote on Apr 18, 2008 12:55 PM:
Bev wrote on Apr 18, 2008 11:54 AM:
Iberian wrote on Apr 18, 2008 5:51 AM:
It is time we get drugs off our streets and out of our communties. But ALL means necessay if need be! Bet Mr.Jones will think twice before he starts to swallow a couple of baggies! "
walking tall wrote on Apr 17, 2008 11:30 PM:
Another Citizen wrote on Apr 17, 2008 10:45 PM:
Seriously People!!! wrote on Apr 17, 2008 5:25 PM:
TT wrote on Apr 17, 2008 4:07 PM:
Betsy wrote on Apr 17, 2008 3:30 PM:
a black woman wrote on Apr 17, 2008 3:16 PM:
ASTRO wrote on Apr 17, 2008 2:09 PM:
How ridiculous! wrote on Apr 17, 2008 12:29 PM:
Black Person wrote on Apr 17, 2008 11:12 AM:
Blue Line wrote on Apr 17, 2008 10:42 AM:
Brian wrote on Apr 17, 2008 10:28 AM:
concerned citizen of west end wrote on Apr 17, 2008 9:26 AM:
AMAZED wrote on Apr 17, 2008 8:24 AM:
I figure if the "African Americans" can have a march, so can the whites and Law Enforcement! "
Chad LeBlanc wrote on Apr 17, 2008 8:08 AM:
Chad D LeBlanc "
lol wrote on Apr 16, 2008 11:00 PM:
This is your brain on drugs wrote on Apr 16, 2008 10:10 PM:
Why is a "man of God" (I use that term loosely) defending an "alleged" drug dealer/user and trying to protect him and get him released back into this neighborhood?
Do the law abiding citizens in this neighborhood agree?? If not, they better step up and put a stop to this march against law enforcement!
By the way, I would like to know what church bestowed the title of "Reverend" on Rev. Raymond Brown. "