Guide Note
Scott Nugent is a former Winnfield, Louisiana, police officer who allegedly killed suspect Baron Pikes by shocking him nine times with a Taser during an arrest. The Winn Parish coroner, Dr. Randolph Williams, ruled Nugent's death a homicide, and Nugent may face charges in connection to the incident.1
Fast Facts
- Hometown: Winnfield, Louisiana1
- Winnfield police officer until fired in May 20081
- Father: Gleason Nugent1
- Nugent's father committed suicide in 2005, after being accused of corruption in police chief election1
- Killed Pikes with Taser during arrest in January 20081
- Pikes wanted on cocaine charges1
- Winnfield police employed Tasers 14 times in first year used by the force1
- 12 of those 14 times, the Tasers were used to shock blacks1
- 10 of those 12 times, the Taser was used by Nugent1
Racial Tensions
The death of Pike, who is black, as a result of shocks from the Taser of Nugent, who is white, stirred up racial tensions in the small Louisiana town where the incident took place. According to Williams, Pikes died after the seventh shock and Nugent administered the last two shocks to Pikes's dead body.1