(The Center Square) — Shreveport residents packed a City Council meeting on Tuesday to address safety concerns downtown, where a violent fight broke out over the Halloween weekend.
No arrests have been made in connection with the brawl, which involved a large crowd at the intersection of Texas and Spring Street that blocked the flow of traffic. The fight, captured on video now circulating on social media, left one man unconscious, according to updated reports. Chris Bordelon, public information officer for the Shreveport Police Department, said it is actively working on the case.
In response to the violence, the City Council convened a special meeting at Government Plaza to discuss increasing police presence in the area and ways to crack down on public fighting.
The council sought updates from Police Chief Wayne Smith on loitering, law enforcement partnerships and public fighting, and invited residents to share their concerns.
“We do not want you to have a fear of going anywhere in our city,” Council Chairwoman Tabatha Taylor told the audience.
City officials said they increased police presence the night of the fight, with 28 officers deployed in the area. A detailed call log from Smith showed officers received 14 calls between 11:00 p.m. and 4:02 a.m. in the area, five of which were for fighting.
Fighting on public property, according to Smith, is prohibited by law. Loitering, however, is another circumstance and requires different efforts.
According to City Attorney Marcus Edwards, the police department has full authority to arrest people involved in public fights for aggravated battery, disturbing the peace and obstructing a public roadway. The council urged the mayor and the police to take action on arresting those involved in the Halloween night fight.
They commended the department for their work despite a significant lack in manpower. The department is 158 officers short, and the city is trying to reduce criminal acts by establishing community partnerships.
Downtown was not the only area of the city that needed police assistance on Halloween night. Council member Ursula Bowman cited house parties, vandalism, fights and other incidents requiring police presence.
