Monday, February 23, 2009

Officer Andre Rogers Arrested for the 2nd Time for Domestic Violence Won't Get a Deal

An Arcadia police officer who has been arrested for domestic violence for the second time in less than three months will be prosecuted by the district attorney as authorities move to prevent the sweetheart deal he got on city charges the first time.

Andre Rogers was arrested by Bienville Parish sheriff's deputies over the weekend on charges he choked his wife in front of their 3-year-old child.

An Arcadia police officer called to Rogers' house Saturday night to investigate a family fight notified sheriff's deputies when he saw who the suspect was, Bienville Sheriff John Ballance said. Deputies arrested Rogers when he returned to his home and booked him into the Bienville Parish Jail.

Ballance said bond for Rogers had not been set early this afternoon.

Rogers was arrested last November on simple battery charges that alleged he hit his wife. He settled the matter quickly in Arcadia town court -- paying a fine the morning of the first business day after his arrest -- and was eventually allowed to return to work.

At the time, Rogers was the assistant police chief. He was demoted to patrolman and suspended through the end of the year.

The new charges will be prosecuted in Bienville District Court and will be handled by the district attorney's office, Ballance said.

Ballance said the couple is divorced but are living together.

Arcadia Police Chief Victor Rogers did not return a call for comment today.

Jones said after the earlier arrest that his assistant chief did not get preferential treatment by settling the case quickly. There are provisions in the way city court operates that would allow people charged with certain offenses to go ahead and pay their fines, he said.

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http://www.ktbs.com/

http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20090223/NEWS01/90223003

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