By Paige Gurgainers

Following an investigation by the Louisiana State Police, an indictment handed down by a grand jury and a court hearing that took place yesterday, (May 28), Homer Police Chief Van McDaniel finds himself behind bars again on two counts of malfeasance of office. 

This investigation stems from an incident that occurred in Dec. 2022 where body cam footage shows McDaniel and Homer Police officers repeatedly tasing a man following a theft investigation at the 1400 block of Arthur Street in Homer. The man, Gregory Moak, was handcuffed and face down on the ground during the incident.

Moak obtained a lawyer and claimed excessive use of force with the Claiborne Parish Attorney’s Office.

McDaniel was previously arrested by Louisiana State Police on Nov. 6, 2023 on one count of aggravated battery and one count of malfeasance. The same day, McDaniel posted a $200,000 bond. The indictment added two additional malfeasance charges due to McDaniel not reporting a hard drive from the Homer Police Department (HPD) that contained video of Moak. 

His bond was at $200,000 on April 1. The bond stipulations ordered by Judge Walter May of the Second District Court of Louisiana, included:

• McDaniel is not to carry any weapons, including a gun, taser or anything that could be considered a weapon
• McDaniel is not to have access to HPD or allowed on the premises
• McDaniel is not to have access to any HPD vehicles or contact with any HPD personnel
• McDaniel is not authorized to swear any affidavits
• McDaniel is not allowed to have contact with Gregory Moak or any other person involved in the case  

He was allowed 48 hours to remove any personal items from his previously assigned HPD vehicle. McDaniel has been booked into the Claiborne Parish Detention Center. The trial is pending.

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.