A probationary Church Point Police officer has resigned following his arrest in connection with a domestic violence incident on Christmas Day.
Rasiem Alexis Fredericks, 27, of Opelousas, was arrested by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office on a charge of domestic abuse battery child endangerment. As of Tuesday, no bond had been set for Fredericks.
On Tuesday, Church Point Police Chief Dale Thibodeaux stated, “Effective this date, the accused Church Point Police Department Officer Rasiem Alexis Fredericks, arrested by the St. Landry Sheriffs Department, has tendered his resignation and is no longer employed by the Church Point Police Department.”
According to a news release from St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz, on Dec. 25, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 100 block of Castille Road in Sunset in regards to a domestic abuse battery complaint.
“Deputies met with a female, who stated that Rasiem Fredericks was at her home with her three juvenile children, ages 6 years, 2 years and 1 year old,” Guidroz stated. “While she was away from her home for a short while, she received a text message from Rasiem Fredericks, who stated that the 6-year-old juvenile yelled at him and hit him in the head. Rasiem Fredericks stated in a text that he responded by slapping the 6-year-old juvenile in the face, but he did not hit him hard enough to make the juvenile pass out. He also sent a picture of the juvenile to the victim’s mother, stating that the juvenile was being too disrespectful and he will not allow it. A short while later, Rasiem Fredericks texted the victim’s mother again stating that this was a social media prank.
“When deputies arrived at the residence and questioned Rasiem Fredericks, he stated that this was a joke and he used makeup on the child’s face because it was a social media prank. He also stated that the mother took the joke too seriously.”
Guidroz stated that the juvenile’s face showed redness, and the child made complaints of tenderness when the red area was touched. The juvenile also stated that makeup was not applied to his face.
Following his arrest on the domestic abuse battery with child endangerment charge, Fredericks was taken to the St. Landry Parish Jail and booked on the charge.
In the last few years, Fredericks has been accused, charged and arrested on other offenses.
According to a report from the Ville Platte Gazette, in July 2018, while employed with the Basile Police, Fredericks was arrested by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office on a similar charge — domestic abuse battery by strangulation and child endangerment — following an incident that took place between Fredericks and the victim over a disagreement via Facebook. The story stated that authorities said that the written then verbal confrontation became physical while the victim was holding a child.
Just a few months later, Fredericks was again arrested by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. According to a report from The Eunice News, Fredericks was arrested after allegedly calling in bomb threats to the St. Landry Parish 911 Communication Center while identifying himself as “Officer Fredericks.”
“Detectives then arrived at the address where the call was traced and located Fredericks,” Guidroz stated in a news release cited in the story. “Fredericks was advised of his Miranda Rights prior to providing a statement. Fredericks denied placing the call to 911 emergency services. Fredericks was found to be in possession of a Basile Police Department ID card identifying him as a police officer. Detectives contacted the police department and were told that he no longer works there.”
On Monday, Thibodeaux stated, “Upon the officer’s hiring, all requirements were met by Fredricks prior to him being hired. A check with the St. Landry Parish District Attorney’s Office showed all previous charges on Mister Fredericks had been dismissed, and the only thing they showed was a simple battery (conviction).”
Later that same day, Thibodeaux also posted the following statement on social media: “Just so everyone has the facts of what occurs before being hired as a Church Point Police Officer and is in policy and followed. First of all, an application is filled out, and a background check is ran. If that comes out clear, then the references are checked and confirmed. The next step is a physiological evaluation — (this) is done to assure standards are met, and a physical along with a drug test is given. Once all these measures are taken and clear, then a recommendation is made on my part to the Town Council for probationary hire. This probationary hire is for six months to see if the officer fits the criteria of the department.
“These above mentioned steps are followed for everyone — no exceptions. These steps were followed in the hiring of Officer Fredericks, and the only thing Mister Fredericks was ever convicted of was a misdemeanor simple battery. I personally contacted the District Attorney’s Office in St. Landry Parish and was advised by them that all Mister Fredericks was ever convicted on was simple battery. A simple battery misdemeanor is not grounds for preventing a person from becoming a officer or being hired. Every departmental standard was followed, and the Church Point Police Department has placed Fredericks on administrative leave while an internal investigation is being done as per policy and procedure.”
