LAYFAYETTE –– A Youngsville resident claims the local police department targeted him over his opposition to a proposed RV park.
Dreux Barra filed a complaint on Sept. 6 in the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Louisiana against named members of the Youngsville Police Department and Youngsville Mayor Ken Ritter.
According to the complaint, the defendants repeatedly abused their law enforcement authority by showing up at Barra's house unannounced to intentionally question and accuse him of flying his drone in the RV park space.
Youngsville police officer Nathan Merithrew allegedly arrested Barra for criminal mischief without probable cause tand confiscated his drone. The criminal mischief charges were dismissed, however Barra did not get his drone back until months later, the complaint states.
Barra believes that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated.
Barra claims he opposed the RV park along with several other citizens due to concerns about property values, noise and the potential for flooding from runoff.
Barra requests a jury trial and seeks damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish and legal fees. He is represented by L. Clayton Burgess out of Layfayette.