Lake Charles council debates no-loitering rule for lakefront after social-media fights; police to increase overnight patrols

The Lake Charles City Council spent much of its meeting reviewing public-safety concerns tied to a string of social-media videos showing late-night fights at the Civic Center and on the lakefront, and discussed a proposed no-loitering ordinance intended to give officers a clearer tool to disperse dangerous gatherings.

Police Chief (identified in the transcript as the chief) told the council that the most recent incident occurred about 5:11 a.m. and is under active investigation. “That incident actually occurred about 05:11AM,” the chief said, adding that detectives are working to identify people involved and that the department began stationing an officer at the Civic Center between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. the night before the meeting.

Chief: “We’ve stationed an officer there between 10PM and 6AM beginning last night and running for the duration until we pull them off.”

Councilmembers and staff framed Item 21 — the ordinance that would prohibit loitering on specified city-owned properties during set hours — as a first step to allow proactive policing rather than waiting for incidents to escalate. The chief noted staffing limits and that periodic patrols cannot always prevent a late-night eruption if large groups gather after officers leave.

Council member Morris said he sees “this video every Monday morning” and urged a stronger presence at the Civic Center. Another council member and runners from the public worried that a broadly written ordinance could sweep in lawful users; Shade Jacob, a resident who runs at the lakefront, asked how runners, fishers and families would be treated. The chief and council responded that officers would use discretion.

Resident Shade Jacob: “If you’re running and you’re walking, you can see. This gives us some teeth to stop what’s been going on.”

Several speakers also criticized the private Allied security firm that provides building security at City Hall, saying footage showed guards failing to intervene during a recent in-meeting altercation. City administration representatives said they have met with Allied and the police department, and that officers will remain at council meetings “until everybody is cleared out” while officials review long-term options.

Resident Miles Brown, who identified himself during public comment, urged the city to consider sworn officers instead of private security when the Allied contract ends and questioned reported contract costs. “If all he’s gonna do is watch, then what are we paying our money for?” Brown said.

A motion from the dais to allow a resident extra time to finish his remarks was seconded and approved by voice vote; the minutes reflect the council permitted the speaker additional time (tally not specified in the transcript).

What happens next: Item 21 remained on the agenda for consideration; councilmembers said they expect to refine enforcement and emphasize officer discretion to avoid penalizing lawful uses of the lakefront and Civic Center. Administration and police said they would continue coordination with the sheriff’s office and with the real-time crime unit where jurisdiction and access allow.