CRIME REPORTS
December 2, 2015
Joy Boudreaux
December 2, 2015
A Bayou Region state senator says he plans to see a neurologist to determine if lingering brain injury from an auto accident resulted in his inability to remember details of an incident leading to his arrest after allegedly punching a woman in the face.
He also communicated an apology to the woman he is accused of striking, described by authorities as someone with whom he was in a “romantic relationship.”
Sen. Troy Brown, D-Geismar, whose 2nd Senatorial District includes portions of Lafourche Parish, was freed from the Orleans Parish jail after posting a $30,000 bond Sunday.
New Orleans Police Department spokesman Tyler Gamble said that at about 9:40 p.m. on Saturday, officers from the 8th District investigated a domestic battery, which occurred at 601 Loyola Ave., the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
“Upon speaking with the victim the officers learned that she and Troy Brown became involved in a verbal disagreement while inside Brown’s hotel room,” Gamble said. “Due to the disagreement, the victim chose to leave the room with her female friend. While the victim and her female friend were awaiting an elevator, Brown relocated to the elevator waiting area and became involved in an argument with the female friend of the victim. The victim intervened in the argument at which time Brown struck the victim with a closed fist in her right eye. At the time of the investigation, the victim showed minor swelling to the right side of her face.”
Brown was apprehended and arrested without incident.
Phil Stelly, a spokesman for Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff Marlin Gusman, said he could not find a copy of Brown’s booking photo in the jail’s computer system, and so one was not made available to The Times Monday.
“Saturday night, after the Bayou Classic game, I was socializing with a small group of friends in a suite at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown New Orleans,” Brown said, in a statement released Monday by a spokeswoman, Marsanne Golsby. “There was an altercation involving myself and two or three other individuals at the party. Security was called and I was arrested by NOPD and charged with a misdemeanor. I have been cooperating fully with authorities and will continue to do so.”
“I am seeking medical help to determine if the injuries I suffered in a life-threatening automobile accident in 1991 affected my cognitive abilities in more serious ways than I was already aware,” the statement reads.”I am very concerned that I am not able to recall the details of what happened. I apologize to my family, my friends and supporters, my constituents and the alleged victim.”
The New Orleans Advocate identified the victim as Katasha Willis of Labadieville.
Brown, a Napoleonville native who is a Southern University graduate, owns a home health company and a construction firm. He and his wife, Toni, have two children.
He was elected to the Senate in 2011 and re-elected Oct. 24 by an overwhelming margin.
Brown came away with 72 percent of the vote in the primary, leaving 12 percent of the vote to fellow Democrat Chris Delpit and 16 percent to Eric Weil, who has no party affiliation.
In addition to a small portion of Lafourche, Brown’s district includes portions of Ascension, Assumption, Iberville, St Charles, St John the Baptist and St. James parishes, as well as a portion of West Baton Rouge Parish. •
State Sen. Troy Brown was arrested Saturday on a domestic battery charge after he allegedly punched a woman in the face.
