Pine Prairie Council hears from concerned resident

A concerned resident, John Steve Delafosse, addressed the Pine Prairie Village Council during its meeting last Thursday on recent disturbances in his neighborhood.
One of the incidents involved the person in question allegedly burning a truck on purpose.
“He put a stick on the throttle three times,” Delafosse told the council. “The first time, he was sitting in it. The smoke was flying out of it. He was on the side of the road in the 15-foot of easement. It was practically city property.”
He continued, “The second time is when I filmed him. He went back for the third time, and the engine finally gave up. I heard the rod knock. I looked and there were some flames dripping.”
Delafosse then chronicled other alleged disturbances and incidents of assault.
“You’re not the only one,” Mayor Quint West told Delafosse.
Police Chief L.C. Deshotel added, “You can help us. All of our citizens can help. In a situation like that, don’t think I’m going to take you to Ville Platte.”
Mayor West went on to say, “We’re receiving complaints from the whole area. They’re afraid of what he’ll do. It’s a shame that in Pine Prairie you got to live in fear of somebody.”
Delafosse replied, “I’m not just standing up for myself. I’m going to stand up for all the elderly and the other people around me. I’ve been here long enough to know this is good people. This is a good community.”
Chief Deshotel told Delafosse to call him every time he sees something going on. To which Delafosse said, “It’s going to be a lot of calls.”
Delafosse then addressed the council on the individual allegedly selling palettes from his residence.
Councilwoman Debbie Oge asked, “Can’t we stop him now rather than wait for something if we see him loading palettes on a trailer?”
“If he’s not doing it now,” Chief Deshotel replied, “then it’s going to be hard to do something.”
Councilman Gilbert Bordelon then stated, “If he’s selling palettes in town and doesn’t have a business license, then he can’t be doing it in a residential area.”
Chief Deshotel said he would go to the individual’s residence after the meeting and give him until Monday, March 16, to see about his loud mufflers, which was also discussed.
In other business, the council approved Mayor West writing off sewer account debt balances for those who are deceased with inactive accounts and accepted the resignation of Benjamin Bordelon from the Pine Prairie Police Department effective Friday, March 13.