Police officers can often put themselves in dangerous positions when responding to calls related to domestic violence because tensions and emotions are usually running high. In close-knit communities, it is also not uncommon for victims and perpetrators of domestic violence to have prior relationships with the police. Such was the case for Maringouin’s Chief of Police, John Simien (“Chief Simien”), who was both a friend and family member to Mr. and Mrs. Wright, when he got a call to come to the Wright’s house during a dispute.
Mr. Wright was the former Mayor of the Town of Maringouin, and the night before the dispute, he told his wife, Mrs. Wright, that he wanted a divorce. As a result, Mrs. Wright left the couple’s house and secured a restraining order against Mr. Wright. The next day, Chief Simien received a distressed call from Mrs. Wright, asking that he come to the house. When Chief Simien arrived at the house, he took Mr. Wright to his car for a ride away from the home so that Mrs. Wright could collect clothes and medications for her and her son, Charles Wright, Jr. (“C.J.”).
When Chief Simien and Mr. Wright arrived back at the house, Mrs. Wright, C.J., and Mrs. Wright’s brother, Maxie Gray (“Mr. Gray”), were loading a washer and dryer into a pickup truck. Mr. Wright attempted to get out of the car, but Chief Simien grabbed his wrists and forced him back into the car. C.J. also confronted Mr. Wright, placing his hands around his father’s neck, while Mr. Gray hit his brother-in-law in the leg, all of which constrained Mr. Wright inside the car.