A Louisiana woman has filed a lawsuit against the City of New Orleans and several police officers, alleging civil rights violations stemming from a child custody dispute. Alejandra Carolina Gutierrez filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on November 25, 2025, naming the City of New Orleans, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, Detective Alexander Reiter, Officer Lawrence Weathersby Jr., Officer Lester Arnaud, and Detective Barry Blanchard as defendants.
The case revolves around an incident that began on July 31, 2024, when Gutierrez attempted to regain custody of her two daughters from her ex-boyfriend Joshua Lawrence Bruno. Despite having joint legal custody, Bruno had allegedly withheld the children for nearly two months. When Gutierrez met Bruno at a restaurant to retrieve her children, a confrontation ensued that involved NOPD officers. Detective Reiter and other officers determined that Gutierrez was entitled to take custody of her children but advised her to return them to Bruno the following evening. However, due to concerns about safety and ongoing harassment by Bruno, Gutierrez decided not to exchange the children as instructed.
Gutierrez’s decision led to a series of events involving false claims by Bruno about his custodial rights and his children’s medical needs. Based on these claims and without proper verification by NOPD officers Weathersby, Arnaud, and Blanchard, a felony arrest warrant was issued against Gutierrez for interference with child custody. This action prompted further escalation when Blanchard contacted state authorities leading to a Level II Missing Child Endangerment Alert being issued against Gutierrez.
The plaintiff argues that these actions were conducted under color of state law and violated her Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure as well as her Fourteenth Amendment right against deprivation of liberty without due process. The complaint also highlights that despite knowing about NOPD’s policy not to intervene in custodial disputes without probable cause or legal justification, Reiter proceeded with issuing an arrest warrant based on unverified claims by Bruno.
Gutierrez is seeking compensatory damages for physical, emotional, and economic harm suffered due to wrongful arrest and incarceration. She is also requesting punitive damages along with attorney fees under 42 U.S.C §1988 plus judicial interest covering all costs related to these proceedings.
Representing Alejandra Carolina Gutierrez is Samantha G. Moisant from Moisant Law Firm LLC located in Metairie Louisiana while details regarding defense attorneys remain undisclosed within this document filing identified as Case ID: 2:25-cv-02386 before magistrate judge unknown at present time.
Source: 225cv02386_Alejandra_Carolina_v_The_City_of_New_Orleans_Complaint_Eastern_District_of_Louisiana.pdf
