Last week, a Baton Rouge police officer was arrested on charges of speeding and negligent homicide for causing a car accident that led to the death of a one-year-old baby. On Tuesday, the mother of the child, 20-year-old Brittany Stephens, was also arrested for negligent homicide because police say she didn’t properly secure the baby’s car seat, according toThe Advocate.
In the arrest report, police claim that the car seat was not secure and that the straps were not correctly adjusted for the baby's height. The report says that the "lack of securing the seat to the vehicle and the loose straps are a contributing factor in the death." Stephens was arrested for what police called "gross negligence" because she buckled her baby in, even though she was not driving the vehicle, according to Baton Rouge police spokesman Sgt. L'Jean McKneely.
The crash took place on October 12, 2017 around 8 p.m., when Baton Rouge police officer Christopher Manuel struck a Nissan while driving his Corvette at 94 mph. Manuel was off duty at the time of the incident and crashed into the passenger side of the Nissan holding Stephens, her daughter, three other adults, and three other children. Stephens and the other passengers were taken to the hospital, where her daughter Seyaira Stephens died of her injuries.
The 28-year-old officer was arrested on February 16 and has been on paid administrative leave since the accident. He posted his $15,000 bail to be released from jail the same day as his arrest. Stephens also posted her $3,600 bond and was released from jail Wednesday.
Its unclear, according to the Baton Rouge District Attorney, if either Stephens or Manuel will be found guilty on the charge of negligent homicide following their arrests.
