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Deyshia Hargrave, the teacher who was arrested and escorted out of a school board meeting, has filed a lawsuit against the school board and Marshal Officer Reggie Hilts.
The Rene Rost Middle School teacher filed the lawsuit on Jan. 4 in the Vermilion Parish courthouse. It was recorded almost a year to the date of the school board meeting.
During questioning Superintendent Jerome Puyau about his pay raise from his contract extension, Sgt. Hilts removed her from the meeting and eventually put her in handcuffs in the hall outside the meeting room. She was escorted out of the building in handcuffs by Sgt. Hilts.
The lawsuit states that Sgt. Hilts had never read the Louisiana Open Meetings Law concerning the manner in which meetings are to be conducted.
The lawsuit explained in detail what was taking place as Hargrave spoke.
In the lawsuit, it states, “Before she could finish making her comments, Mr. Fontana leaned back in his chair and looked at Sgt. Hilts which prompted Sgt Hilts to approach Ms. Hargrave. After being prompted by Mr. Fontana, Sgt Hilts removed Ms. Hargrave from the Special Meeting #5.”
A video shows Sgt. Hilts escorting Hargrave out of the meeting room and into the hall. The lawsuit also states, “She was forced to the floor by Sgt. Hilts. After forcing Ms. Hargrave to the floor, Sgt Hilts put his knee in Ms. Hargrave’s back and placed her in handcuffs.”
She was put into an Abbeville Police car and taken to the police department where she was booked for the alleged violation of “the entry on remaining in places or on land after being forbidden.”
The lawsuit said she spent time in jail and posted bond for her release. Abbeville City Attorney Ike Funderburk said he would not pursue the charges for which Sgt. Hilts arrested Hargrave.
The lawsuit said what Sgt. Hilts did was, “criminal, malicious, intentional, willful, outrageous, reckless, and/or flagrant misconduct.”
The lawsuit continued by saying “Sgt Hilts deprived Ms. Hargrave of her Louisiana Constitutional and statutory right to directly participate in the special meeting.”
The lawsuit blames the school board for hiring Sgt. Hilts and not training him, and the lawsuit states that Sgt. Hilts “posed a threat of injury to members of the public.”
Also, the lawsuit claims that Hargrave’s arrest and detention was “unlawful because she did not commit either of the crimes for which Sgt. Hilts arrested her.” It also says that Sgt. Hilts committed, “a battery upon Ms. Hargrave.”
In the lawsuit is a list of alleged damages suffered by Hargrave because of Sgt. Hilts.
• Past physical pain and suffering
• Bruising
• Past, present, and future mental anguish, embarrassment, humiliation, and indignity
• Past, present and future medical and therapy expenses
• Inconvenience
• The cost associated with release from jail

In the first Vermilion Parish School Board meeting of 2019 with three new school board members, a familiar result occurred.
The new school board members could not decide on whom they wanted to be president. After three votes, the result came up 4-4.
Board members Jean Broussard and Kibbie Pillette put their names up to be the new president.
Last year’s vice president Laura LeBeouf did not want the job.
When it came to voting for Broussard, Chris Gautreaux, Jean Broussard, and Jason Roy voted for Jean.
Voting against were Pillette, Dale Stelly, David Dupuis, and LeBeouf. These four voted for Pillette, and the other four voted against Pillette.
When the hour-long meeting was over, the board left with no new board president. The next meeting will be on Jan. 24 and they will vote again. Until then, LeBeouf will act as the president.
Board members explained their vote during board commentary.
“We are trying to elect a president. We need to elect a president who has no controversy,” said board member Chris Gautreaux. “Myself, I have a controversy with me. Other board members have controversy. Mr. Broussard has no controversy. We need a fresh start. We need someone who can work with the central office and the superintendent. That is where Vermilion Parish School Board needs to go.”
Pillette explained to the board members why he wanted to be the new president. He is on his second go around of being on the school board. He was a board member in the late 1980s. In that time, Pillette was president of the school board twice.
He is starting his second term being a school board member, after replacing Charles Campbell.
Pillette said, “When you talk about conflict, it will be challenging for anyone on this board to not have conflict. There has always been conflict. Board members need to talk to each other. Since I been on board, there has been separation which has not been caused by board members.”
New board member Jason Roy gave his thoughts on why he voted for Jean instead of Pillette.
“We need someone impartial,” said Roy. “Whoever is elected has to have a good working relationship with the central office and the superintendent. Picking sides has gone on long enough. We need someone impartial.”

The Abbeville High Boys Powerlifting Team captured the Calvary Invitational Powerlifting meet in Sherveport over the weekend. The AHS boys, left to right, are Alvaro Lopez, Connor Grouvillia, Noah Richardson, Phillip McCoy, Addison Gaspard, Christian Alvarez, Jason Alvarez, Dontae Dunaway, Adam Nichols, Deion Williams, Raj Patel, Marlon Coco, Chuck Shuford, Ian Grouvillia, Malachi Arriaga, Caleb Garcia and Jerimyah Overton. Overton won the best heavyweight lifter and Christian Alvarez was best lightweight male lifter.

The Abbeville High Girls Powerlifting Team won the Calvary Invitational in Shreveport. The Lady Wildcats are Makynli Luzier, Evony Thurmon, Braiana Tomino, Michelle Foreman, NyGene Williams, Destani Longman, Aaliyah Coco, Hannah Smith, Makayla Jones, Jayla Reaux, Marcela Marquez, Shaye Robertson, Lainey Trahan and Franchesca Regalado. Lainey Trahan was the best female heavy weight lifter at the meet.