BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) — Louisiana State Trooper James Jefferson III, 40, was arrested on February 5, 2025, after a domestic violence incident outside a Baton Rouge home.
Baton Rouge Police responded to a call around 11:30 p.m. regarding a domestic dispute. Both Jefferson and his wife told officers there was no physical altercation, but they had been arguing. Jefferson had fresh scratches on his hand, though his wife had no visible injuries.
However, the caller, who had witnessed the dispute, informed police that the couple had argued about the wife getting into Jefferson’s truck. Shortly after, the caller heard the wife shouting for “Help” and observed Jefferson allegedly pushing his wife to the ground. Surveillance footage revealed a struggle near the truck, accompanied by cries of “He’s punching me” and “Don’t throw me to the ground,” as a child was reportedly in the backseat of the vehicle during the incident.
Jefferson was arrested and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of domestic abuse battery with child endangerment. He has been placed on administrative leave from his duties with the Louisiana State Police, where he has worked since 2007. The agency has initiated both a criminal and administrative investigation into the matter.
All law enforcement property associated with Jefferson will be recovered during the investigation process.
