Update: Lafayette developer one of three people charged in fight that knocks out
We have new information about a fight that knocked out a Lafayette woman along the Lafayette parade route. Lafayette developer Glenn Stewart, 53, confronted 41-year-old Erin Fitzgerald when he saw her removing banners off of a float in which he was rider, Cpl. Paul Mouton said. The float features a cutout of "The Independent Weekly" Publisher Cherry Fisher May holding a steering wheel with a banner below which reads, "Caution!!! Float driven by Cherry Fisher May." The picture and banner refer to May's DUI arrest in 2010. Fitzgerald is Publisher Steve May's daughter and Fisher May's stepdaughter.
According to Mouton, a man stepped in when Stewart and Fitzgerald started arguing, and a fight between the men ensued. During the fight, Fitzgerald was hit in the face, Mouton said. Video obtained by KATC shows Fitzgerald on the ground unconscious. Lafayette police issued a misdemeanor summons to both John St. Julien, 60, and Stewart for disturbing the peace by fighting. Fitzgerald was later issued a summons for disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct. " The case remains under investigation," Mouton said.
Last year Stewart bought four billboards featuring Fisher May's mug shot asking why wasn't her arrest reported in The Independent. We have not yet been able to confirm with The Independent Parade organizers whether Stewart paid for the float.
Stewart's grudge against the weekly paper began after a series of reports, including last year's April 6th cover story, "Green Acres." Stewart, among other property owners, was featured for getting an agricultural property exemption that allowed him to pay less property taxes on one of his developments, Parc Lafayette. He could claim the exemption as long as one bail of hay was cultivated on the land.
Read "Green Acres" here, and watch KATC's interview with Stewart about those billboards here.
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