The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office wrapped up the Mardi Gras season on Feb. 15 with a 90-unit parade that covered more than four miles across LaPlace on a spectacular spring-like day that attracted thick crowds but no major criminal incidents along the parade route.
“It was an all hands on deck affair and everybody did a great job,” Sheriff Mike Tregre said. “We were highly visible and maintained crowd control, while our residents were able to have fun and enjoy the parade.”
The parade began shortly after 11 a.m. and the final unit rolled through at 2:15 p.m.
There were some incidents reported during that three-hour window, including:
7 Medical Calls. One required the use of an all-terrain vehicle to retrieve the patient. The ambulance could not access the neighborhood street because of the parade.
4 Lost Children. The youngest being 3. All were reunited with family.
6 Fights that resulted in three arrests.
1 Vehicle Breakdown: A tractor that was pulling a float broke down on Hemlock Street and had to be replaced with another vehicle.
1 false report of a shooting. The claim was investigated and found not true.
Cost in OT: $90,000 just for detail securing the 4-mile parade route.
“Everyone did a tremendous job dealing with traffic, escorting floats, multiple fights, traffic accidents, lost children, medical calls, and a false shooting claim, all while some of them were investigating a homicide that took place around midnight Sunday morning in LaPlace,” Sheriff Tregre said. “And despite all of the tasks assigned to them, an arrest in the homicide investigation was made by 7 p.m. Sunday evening.”