Large crowds at this year’s Lake Charles Mardi Gras Chicken Run led to law enforcement officers barring several hundred people from an evening concert and breaking up multiple fights, sparking dialogue in the aftermath between the city and residents about how to prevent future issues.
Three residents who said they regularly attend the event spoke at the City Council meeting Wednesday about their experience this year.
Margaret Harmon said police repeatedly told her to turn down her music and back away from the road to the point where she and her family couldn’t enjoy the event. She said part of the problem was that the roads weren’t adequately blocked off.
“When the parade comes here Tuesday, you’ll be able to walk all over the street,” Harmon said.
She asked that the city consider setting up barricades and allowing loud music, as it does for events on Mardi Gras weekend, next year. “We pay taxes just like everybody else,” she said.
Linda Polk told council members that she saw police drawing guns and acting aggressively with the crowd. She said she understood that officers sometimes needed to intervene but felt they could have done so without using force.
“It was just all a bit too rough this weekend,” Polk said.
Mayor Randy Roach said the city would meet with officers to discuss what changes need to be made next year and consider bringing a recommendation before the City Council. He said the size of the event exceeded everyone’s expectations and that the Civic Center was getting “overwhelmed” with weekend events.
“We’re going to make some changes to the way we handle that event that will probably affect the way we handle other events,” Roach said.
Lt. Richard Harrell said the department has since reviewed video footage and determined that only nonlethal force was used after attendants refused oral warnings; the only guns used were pepper-ball guns. He said the department will work closely with the city to strategize for next year.
“We use every experience as a chance to learn and better ourselves,” Harrell said.
Ward 3 Marshal Joey Alcede said people were only blocked out of the event because the building had reached capacity — which made many attendants unhappy and caused most of the fights.
He said the parade and concert have grown over the years and are now as big, if not bigger, than the Krewe of Krewe’s Parade. The city set a limit of 400 four-wheelers, but officials counted over 800 at the event, he said, in addition to hundreds of horses and floats.
“The average citizen doesn’t realize how big this chicken run actually is,” Alcede said.
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