A Lafayette Parish Sheriff's deputy has been placed on administrative leave following his arrest for the battery of an inmate.

LPSO Spokesman John Mowell said 28-year-old corrections deputy Damien Allen was conducting a head count at the parish Correctional Center when an argument ensued between him and an inmate. As the situation escalated,  Allen pushed the inmate and punched him above the right eye.

The victim was brought to a local hospital with a laceration above his eye. He received three stitches to treat the injury.

Allen was arrested on one count of simple battery.

According to the arrest report, the incident occurred Thursday afternoon at approximately 4 p.m.

Allen is on administrative leave without pay following the incident.

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