Louisiana State Police have arrested an Oakdale Police Department officer after detectives alleged he used his badge to pressure a person into sexual activity and, in a separate episode, helped plant illegal narcotics at a home, leading to another person’s arrest. Jalen Melbert, 33, of Oakdale, was taken into custody at about 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 and booked into the Allen Parish Jail.
State police said detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division obtained an arrest warrant through the 33rd Judicial District Court charging him with abuse of office and malfeasance in office. Those charges remain allegations. Melbert has not been convicted, and state police have not released evidence from the case file. According to a Sept.
1 Region 2 news release from Louisiana State Police, detectives opened the inquiry on Aug. 19 after receiving a criminal complaint involving an Oakdale officer. During that investigation, detectives reported that Melbert “attempted to use his position as a law enforcement officer to influence a victim to engage in sexual activity.” State police said they also learned of a separate incident in which Melbert “coordinated with another individual to plant illegal narcotics at a residence, which led to the arrest of an unsuspecting individual.”
Authorities have not publicly named the alleged victim in the sexual-activity allegation, the other person said to have helped plant the drugs, or the person who was arrested after narcotics were allegedly placed at the residence. They have not said whether that arrest still stands or whether those charges have been withdrawn. The official release does not describe how the drugs were supposedly planted, what kind of narcotics were involved, or whether any sexual activity occurred.
Early local reporting before the written state police release also said detectives accused Melbert of attempting to manipulate evidence. The charging documents identified by Louisiana State Police list abuse of office and malfeasance in office. Under Louisiana law, abuse of office generally covers a public officer or employee who knowingly uses the authority of the office to compel or coerce something of value when the officer is not entitled to it.
A conviction can carry a prison term of one to five years, with or without hard labor, and a fine of up to $5,000. Malfeasance in office includes, among other conduct, intentionally performing an official duty in an unlawful manner. A conviction can carry up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. State law also provides that a P.O.S.T.-certified peace officer convicted of malfeasance in office shall have that certification revoked.
Those penalties would apply only if a court later finds Melbert guilty. Louisiana State Police said the investigation “remains active and ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming.” As of the most recent public statements this week, authorities have not announced a second defendant, a court date beyond the booking, a bond amount, or any internal discipline by the city. Oakdale Police Chief Kevin Johnson, who took office after a special election this spring, issued a statement through state police.
“The Oakdale Police Department is fully cooperating with Louisiana State Police to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation,” Johnson said. “We take all allegations of misconduct seriously, and the alleged actions do not reflect the standards we expect of our officers. Maintaining the integrity of our department and the trust of the community we serve remains a top priority. Because this matter is part of an ongoing legal process, we cannot provide additional comment at this time.”
The department has not said whether Melbert remains employed, has been placed on leave, or has been stripped of police powers. Johnson’s statement also did not address the status of the person state police say was arrested after narcotics were allegedly planted. The case lands on a police department already under public scrutiny. Former Oakdale Police Chief Chad Doyle resigned last year after a federal indictment in an immigration-visa fraud scheme.
Doyle and other local officials later pleaded guilty. Johnson, previously the deputy chief, won a May special election to finish the term. The Melbert investigation is a separate state case. Nothing in the Louisiana State Police release ties Melbert to the earlier federal prosecution.
The allegations, if proven, go to the core of police power: the ability to search a home, make an arrest, and place a person in the criminal system. Planting evidence, as alleged by state police, would invert that power. Using a badge to press someone for sex, as also alleged, would convert public authority into private leverage. Both claims, state police say, arose from a citizen complaint and are now in the hands of the 33rd Judicial District.
No plea has been reported. State police asked the public to report other suspicious or criminal activity through the agency’s online form. For now, the public record is limited to the warrant, the booking, the two charges, and the department’s pledge to cooperate while the case proceeds.
