LAKE CHARLES, La. – A former Lake Charles Police Department officer was sentenced today in federal court for using unreasonable excessive force during an arrest, announced David C. Joseph, United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, and FBI’s New Orleans Field Office Special Agent in Charge Bryan A. Vorndran.

Robert Hammac, 44, of Lucedale, Mississippi, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr. to 18 months in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release. Hammac pleaded guilty on August 15, 2019 to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.

According to court documents, Hammac was involved in a vehicle pursuit on May 8, 2017, for several miles. The car was brought to a stop, and the victim, identified in court documents as G.T., raised his hands in the air in a manner indicating surrender. Other officers then ordered G.T. out of the car and began pulling him out of the car. Hammac ran to the front passenger side door, opened it, grabbed G.T. before he could exit, pulled him back into the car, and repeatedly punched G.T.’s head with a closed fist. The victim was not resisting in any way or posing a threat.

“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe and we at the Department of Justice have their backs,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph.  “However, those officers who betray the badge and the public’s trust, as the defendant did here, dishonor their profession and endanger the safety of their fellow officers.  We will not tolerate police brutality in the Western District of Louisiana.”

“Officers who deprive individuals of their civil rights will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to upholding and defending the constitutional rights of victims, as shown by today’s sentencing.”

“The judge's decision today reinforces the FBI's commitment that civil rights and color of law violations will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Bryan A. Vorndran of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “Former Lake Charles Officer Robert Hammac abused his position of trust and the authority handed-down to him to protect the members of the public. Law enforcement officers and correctional officers acting under the color of law must ensure a person's civil rights are not violated. The FBI New Orleans Field Office, along the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will continue to uphold the constitution and protect the rights of all persons within U.S. territories.”

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla Bynog of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Mary J. Hahn of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.

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LAKE CHARLES, La. – Robert Hammac, 45, a former officer of the Lake Charles Police Department, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr. for using excessive force against an arrestee, announced U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph for the Western District of Louisiana, Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and FBI’s New Orleans Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Anderson.

Hammac pleaded guilty to a single count of deprivation of rights under color of law, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242.  According to documents filed today, Hammac was involved in a vehicle pursuit of G.T. on May 8, 2017, for several miles. The car was brought to a stop, and G.T. raised his hands in the air in a manner indicating surrender. Other officers then ordered G.T. out of the car and began pulling him out of the car. Hammac ran to the front passenger side door, opened it, grabbed G.T. before he could exit, pulled him back into the car, and repeatedly punched G.T.’s head with a closed fist. The victim was not resisting in any way or posing a threat.

“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph.  “The vast majority of law enforcement officers perform their difficult and dangerous duties with integrity and courage.  However, law enforcement officers who betray the badge and the public’s trust, as the defendant did here, also dishonor their profession and their fellow officers.  This behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the Western District of Louisiana.”

“Law enforcement officers must uphold and defend the constitution,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. “When an officer abuses their power, the public’s trust in law enforcement is compromised. The Department of Justice will continue to hold such officers accountable under the law.”

“Police officers respond to challenging and dynamic situations every day,” stated FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Anderson. “They are trained to maintain professionalism and adhere to standards of conduct in any situation. In this instance, the officer did not apply his training and violated the constitutional rights of the victim. Instances such as this are unacceptable and will continue to be high priority investigations of the FBI.

Hammac faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for Nov. 14.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla Bynog of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Mary J. Hahn of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Robert Hammac, 44, a former officer of the Lake Charles Police Department, was indicted today by a federal grand jury for using excessive force against an arrestee, announced U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph and Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.

The indictment charges Hammac with a single count of deprivation of rights under color of law, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242.  The indictment alleges that on May 8, 2017, Hammac assaulted G.T., an arrestee, using a Taser and resulting in bodily injury to G.T.

If convicted, Hammac faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a $250,000 fine. 

The FBI conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla Bynog of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Mary J. Hahn of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.