By Bonnie Culverhouse
An altercation over a cell phone escalated into the arrest of a Shreveport Police officer.
Officer Tia Nicole Stephens, 29, of the 600 block of Leary Street, Minden, was arrested by Minden Police for domestic abuse battery with strangulation.
Chief Jared McIver said Off. Cadyn O’Connor was dispatched to the Leary Street location around 1 a.m. Wednesday in reference to a woman – later identified as Stephens – holding a knife while standing in the yard.
“Ms. Stephens did have a knife and she placed it in her vehicle and closed the door,” McIver said. “Ofc. Ben Sparks and Sgt. Reece Tewell were on scene and Sparks stayed with Stephens while Off. O’Connor talked with another female at the residence.”
McIver said the second female told officers she was in a physical altercation with Stephens who slapped and choked her. Stephens was reportedly looking at the alleged victim’s phone and became “upset” at something she observed.
“When Stephens refused to give back the victim’s phone, Stephens placed her in a headlock and tried to take her to the ground,” said the chief. “She also allegedly grabbed the victim’s throat and choked her. The victim escaped and exited the bedroom but was unable to find her keys. She picked up Stephens’ phone and held it up, demanding her keys back.”
At that point, Stephens reportedly exited the house, and the victim locked the door and called Minden Police.
“Off. O’Connor observed minor lacerations on the victim’s neck and a swollen right eye,” McIver said. “Sgt. Tewell talked with Stephens who claimed the other woman pushed her against a bedroom dresser. She did not have any marks on her. Both parties’ stories were similar, but there were some inconsistencies.”
The victim reportedly told officers physical altercations between the two happened in the past. Recently, she called Minden Police about a disturbance but did not file a report.
Stephens denied putting her hands on the victim at any point and told officers the victim’s injuries were self-inflicted. Stephens was arrested without incident. She was charged and transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
