The Ball Police Department announced on July 23 that Ball Alderman Carroll Ward was arrested on a charge of simple assault following an investigation into an incident that allegedly occurred before the July 21 Ball Town Council meeting.
According to the department, the investigation began after a complaint was filed regarding an alleged assault that occurred prior to the council meeting. The Ball Police Department said the complaint involved an alleged violation of Louisiana criminal law that occurred within the Town of Ball.
Following the investigation, police determined there was probable cause to support a charge of simple assault against Ward. He was subsequently arrested.
The Ball Police Department said the case will be forwarded to the appropriate prosecuting authority for review.
Later Thursday, Ball Police Chief Marshall Deen released a statement addressing public questions about why the Ball Police Department investigated the complaint instead of referring it to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office or Louisiana State Police.
Deen said the complaint involved an alleged violation of Louisiana criminal law that occurred within the Town of Ball, making it the responsibility of the Ball Police Department to investigate.
According to the chief, he assigned the complaint to the department’s investigator and directed that a thorough, impartial and fact-based investigation be conducted. He said he did not direct the outcome of the investigation and that the investigator determined probable cause existed to support the charge based on the evidence gathered.
Deen also addressed criticism that the investigation occurred during an election season, saying politics, public opinion and a person’s elected position did not influence the investigation.
The Ball Police Department reiterated that the case will be submitted to the appropriate prosecuting authority for review.
Chief Marshall Deen’s complete statement follows:
The events that led to the arrest of an elected official are unfortunate for everyone involved and are not something that any law enforcement agency takes lightly. As Chief of Police, I understand that this matter has generated significant public interest, and I recognize that some members of our community have questioned whether this investigation should have been referred to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office or the Louisiana State Police because it involved elected officials.
I respect those concerns and understand why those questions have been raised. However, every complaint received by the Ball Police Department is evaluated on its own merits. In this case, the complaint alleged a potential violation of Louisiana criminal law that occurred within the Town of Ball and fell within the jurisdiction of the Ball Police Department. It was both our authority and our responsibility to determine whether a criminal offense had occurred.
As with any criminal complaint requiring follow-up investigation, I assigned the case to our investigator and directed that a thorough, impartial, and fact-based investigation be conducted. The investigator interviewed available witnesses, obtained verbal and written statements, reviewed available video and audio evidence, and evaluated the facts without regard to the position, title, or elected office of any individual involved.
At no time did I direct the outcome of the investigation or instruct the investigator on what conclusion to reach. My only directive was that the investigation be conducted professionally, objectively, and in accordance with Louisiana law. Based upon the evidence gathered during the investigation, the investigator determined that probable cause existed to support the charge of Simple Assault, and an arrest was made accordingly.
While outside agencies are sometimes requested to investigate matters involving potential conflicts of interest, there was no legal requirement to do so in this case. After evaluating the circumstances, I determined that assigning the investigation to the Ball Police Department’s investigator was appropriate and consistent with our statutory duty to investigate criminal complaints occurring within our jurisdiction. The integrity of the investigation was paramount, and I am confident that it was conducted fairly, objectively, and without favoritism.
I am also aware that statements have been made publicly encouraging members of our community not to place their trust in the Ball Police Department because this matter arose during an election season. While every citizen has the right to express their opinion, those statements did not influence how this investigation was handled. If anything, they reinforced the importance of ensuring that this investigation was conducted with the highest level of professionalism, objectivity, and integrity. Public office, political affiliation, or election status must never influence the outcome of a criminal investigation. Every person is entitled to the same fair and impartial application of the law, regardless of who they are or the office they hold.
The Ball Police Department has a duty to enforce the law fairly and impartially. That duty does not change based on a person’s position, title, or elected office. No individual should receive preferential treatment, nor should anyone be subjected to a different standard because of their position or status. Our responsibility is to follow the facts, apply the law, and allow the judicial process to proceed. My hope is that this investigation demonstrates our commitment to that principle and reassures the public that justice in Ball is guided by facts, evidence, and the law; not by politics, public opinion, or a person’s position within our community.