A former New Orleans City Park Police officer, Clarence Lee Evans, 45, has been arrested and dismissed from his position following allegations of inappropriate behavior with a minor. The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office has accused Evans of two instances of indecent behavior with a minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles. The arrest took place on Nov. 12, and Evans is currently awaiting extradition to St. Landry Parish, where the alleged incidents occurred.
The case revolves around Evans’ alleged use of a surrogacy app, “Just a Baby,” to connect with the minor. The app is designed to facilitate connections between individuals seeking sperm donors or surrogates. The allegations involve digital communications through the app and two meetings at hotels outside New Orleans.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, Evans is believed to have arranged meetings with the minor in St. Landry Parish, a location more than two hours away from New Orleans. It is alleged that Evans took the minor to a hotel on two occasions and attempted a manual form of insemination. The Attorney General, Liz Murrill, described the case as disturbing and emphasized that no one is above the law.
The City Park Conservancy confirmed that Evans, who had been employed with the City Park Police for about a decade, has been terminated. The organization also pledged to assist authorities with their investigation. The minor’s identity has not been disclosed, but local news outlet WDSU reported that the girl was 12 years old.
Evans is currently being held in the Orleans Parish Justice Center, awaiting transfer to St. Landry Parish. The charges against him include two counts of indecent behavior with juveniles and one count of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, all of which are felonies under Louisiana law.
The Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which has been expanding partnerships with local agencies over the past year, assisted in the arrest. The task force and the Attorney General’s cyber and criminal divisions worked with parish authorities to secure warrants and book Evans in Orleans Parish.
The legal proceedings will now move to St. Landry Parish, where a prosecutor will decide on formal charges and a judge will set initial appearances. If prosecutors file a bill of information or seek a grand jury indictment, the first court setting could be scheduled within weeks.
The news of Evans’ arrest has sent shockwaves through the community. At City Park, families and regular park-goers expressed their dismay at the allegations. Meanwhile, in St. Landry Parish, residents expressed relief that the minor was safe and hoped for justice to be served.