(The Center Square) — The Shreveport City Council has called a special meeting for Tuesday after a violent fight broke out downtown over the weekend.
The Halloween-night brawl, captured in a video that circulated on social media, involved a large crowd at the corner of Spring Street and Texas Street. It’s not clear whether any injuries occurred or if arrests were made.
The council plans to discuss loitering, fighting on public property and strategies that can be implemented immediately to strengthen public safety downtown in coordination with the police department.
“This kind of behavior is absolutely unacceptable in our city,” Mayor Tom Arceneaux said in a statement. According to Arceneaux, the police department had an active safety plan for the weekend, enabling officers to act “quickly, decisively and in accordance with a well-coordinated safety plan.”
The plan, described by Arceneaux, involved 20 officers and state troopers assigned to the area — double the usual amount. The police department’s response time was recorded as three and a half minutes.
“I believe it might be time for the Mayor to request assistance from the Governor’s Office and the Attorney General,” Council member Grayson Boucher, District D, said on social media Monday. “If we don’t act now, downtown may be lost. I hope local law enforcement will hold every one of these individuals accountable.”
Last week, the council heard from a downtown business owner wanting more coverage and safety in the area. The comment came after there was a reported altercation not far from their business.
