Cooper Life Fund continues to give back
May 3, 2018
Ivy Lasseigne. Sr.
May 4, 2018
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating an incident that occurred after the parish council meeting last Tuesday, where witnesses say Lafourche Parish Councilman James Bourgeois threatened the life of Lafourche Councilman Jerry LaFont.
Sheriff PIO Brennan Matherne confirmed the matter is now in the hands of the sheriff’s office, after LaFont filed a complaint Wednesday regarding the incident. Matherne however, declined comment on anything else regarding the issue.
But two Lafourche Councilmen, Jerry Jones and Corey Perilloux, said they witnessed the entire incident. Both men say the incident occurred after the council meeting.
Jones said Bourgeois had left the building, and returned
and could be seen shadow boxing and peeping in the council chamber door, where he, Perrilloux, Lafont, and parish employees were chatting after the meeting.
Perilloux said he opened the chamber door to leave the council chambers, and that’s when Bourgeois came to him with his chest bowed out and his fists cocked up. He also had appeared to have removed his coat.
Jones said Bourgeois was shouting expletives toward LaFont.
However both councilmen said Bourgeois was making life threatening statements.
“It wasn’t nice. And he should have never done what he did,” Jones said.
Perrilloux said it’s unacceptable behavior for any public official.
“It is extremely troubling that discussions or comments at a council meeting could lead to a threat of violence,” Perrilloux said.
“I understand things can get heated, but assault is a ridiculous way to settle differences. As a council, we cannot condone or accept this behavior. I am hopeful cooler heads will prevail and Mr. Bourgeois and Mr. LaFont can work things out,” he said.
Bourgeois could not be reached for comment as of press time. His voicemail was full, and he did not return any texts asking for comment.
LaFont said he would return a call, but had not done so as of press time.
However, Jones said he watched LaFont record the entire incident on his cellphone and he expects that the matter is headed for court.
Jones said the council will try to prod Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle to pay for a sheriff’s deputy to be present at all council meetings, as well as to fix a metal detector that has been inoperable, inside the council’s chambers.
“We passed a resolution regarding this some time ago, and from what I understand Council Chairman Luci Sposito has plans to bring the issues before Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle, soon,” Jones said.
