Rayville police officer arrested on domestic abuse charges

A Rayville police officer has been arrested for domestic abuse.

Richland Parish Sheriff Lee Harrell said deputies arrested Dequarius Griffin, 26, of Rayville at 10:30 p.m. July 8.

Griffin was charged with domestic abuse battery, false imprisonment, offender armed with dangerous weapon, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, simple battery and simple assault.

No bond was set at the time of arrest due to Gwen’s Law regarding the domestic abuse battery.  Gwen’s Law requires that courts conduct a hearing within five days of an arrest on felony grade domestic abuse charges to determine if bail should be set. In the meantime, the accused must remain in jail.

On July 13, a hearing required by Gwen’s Law was held and Griffin’s total bond was set at $200,000, with the condition that should Griffin bond out he is to have no contact with the victims.

Harrel said the RPSO received a complaint of domestic abuse at approximately 8:55 p.m. July 8. The investigation conducted by Richland Parish Sheriff’s Deputies revealed there had been a physical altercation between Griffin and a victim that began around 6 p.m. The victim had been held against her will at her home for nearly two hours. Griffin was armed and on duty at the time as a police officer for the Rayville Police Department.

Investigators say after the victim fled to friends and family, Griffin found her and made an unauthorized entry into this residence where subsequent altercations took place.

The investigation determined there to be five victims over a time period of nearly four hours.