Police issue 21 warrants for online fight videos

Morgan City Police have issued arrest warrants for 21 people, including 17 juveniles, believed to be involved in fights in the Morgan City area, Chief James Blair said in a news release. Videos of the fights were posted online, he said.
The Morgan City Police Department conducted a three-month long investigation, which led to the issuance of the arrest warrants.
Police recovered evidence of 14 different altercations. Investigators worked to identify 21 different individuals, which included 17 juveniles and four adults. In addition, and of those 21 people, nine suspects received multiple counts of engaging in such activity.
The investigation into the alleged fights is ongoing and police haven’t released the identities of the adult suspects involved.
Of the adults charged, the eldest was discovered to be 59 years old. The direct involvement, inciting such activity or the posting of such activity on social media outlets such as YouTube or Facebook, can be a violation of Louisiana law. The Morgan City Police Department is in the process of contacting those involved.
“The Morgan City Police Department,” Blair said, “remains committed to working to keeping our youth as safe as possibly by working to reduce situations which may lead to bullying, batteries and injuries. We encourage all parents to do the same. In some of these instances, it was discouraging to learn that some adults had actually incited such activity rather than intervene.”
Morgan City Police Department juvenile investigators will continue to work closely with various organizations to help these families in whatever assistance they may need, the chief said.
“We encourage parents to actively pursue programs which are available to our youth such as summer programs sponsored by the City of Morgan City as well as the Morgan City Youth Center, which provides students an opportunity to engage in positive activities such as study, learning new skills and just having positive engagement with others,” Blair said.
The Morgan City Youth Center operates at both the Morgan City Junior High and Morgan City High schools.
For more information on this program, you may contact Sandy Nolen at 985-384-5723. The Morgan City Police Department will continue to investigate these cases, which may result in additional arrests. If you have any questions, contact the Morgan City Police Department at 985-380-4605.