Louisiana city re-evaluates ‘saggy pants’ law after man’s death

Officials in a Louisiana city are re-evaluating a 12-year-old ordinance banning “saggy pants” after a man wearing a pair died in a confrontation with police.

Anthony Childs, 31, whom a cop tried to stop on Feb. 5 for wearing the droopy pants, died apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, according to a coroner’s report.

He also had three nonlethal wounds from bullets fired from a distance by Officer Traveion Brooks, who had fired a total of eight times, according to the Shreveport Times.

The coroner has said he didn’t know who fired first, Brooks or Childs, but the officer alleged that Childs shot himself first, a police spokeswoman told the newspaper.

The police chief said proper procedures were followed because Childs was armed and dangerous.

But aside from the questions of use of force, Childs’ death has renewed debate over the saggy pants ordinance, which outlaws pants worn below the waistline with skin or underwear exposed.

On Tuesday, the city council discussed the possible repeal of the ordinance and a vote was expected as early as next month.

Critics of such laws have long raised questions about whether they violate constitutional rights to freedom of expression.

In Shreveport, discussion has often centered on the fact that most of those targeted for saggy pants have been young black males.

Support and opposition for repeal crossed racial lines.

“We’re applying a law that’s stacked,” said Lee Harville, a defense attorney, who is white.

But Michael Williams, an African American minister, wants the ordinance to stay on the books.

“This was an opportunity to restore American values,” Williams said, later adding, “You don’t have to be sagging to get targeted by police. It’s because they’re black. It has nothing to do with sagging.”

Council member Levette Fuller, who is pushing for the repeal, said the law is redundant and likely to result in a lawsuit against the city.

“We already have laws against indecent exposure on the books,” she said.

With Post wires