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Man Allegedly Attacked by St. Tammany Sheriff Speaks Out as State Investigation Continues
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Man Allegedly Attacked by St. Tammany Sheriff Speaks Out as State Investigation Continues
MADISONVILLE, La. — The man who claims he was attacked by St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith inside a popular Madisonville restaurant last week is now publicly sharing his account of what happened as state investigators review the incident.
Bobby Couvillion, a longtime critic of Sheriff Smith, says he was the person involved in the altercation that occurred Friday at Keith Young’s Steakhouse.
According to Couvillion, he was seated inside the restaurant when he was suddenly confronted by Smith.
“I didn’t know who it was,” Couvillion said. “He throws me to the ground, he gets up to me and he says, reeking of alcohol, ‘You’re a dead (expletive).’”
A witness who spoke about the incident said they observed what appeared to be a physical confrontation involving Smith and another patron.
“I was sitting and looked up, and I saw what I now know was Randy Smith grab a patron around his neck,” the witness said. “Three or four people jumped in and tried to pull them apart.”
Sources familiar with the investigation say there may be as many as four surveillance cameras inside the restaurant. Investigators are reportedly reviewing the footage as part of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation under the authority of the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.
Couvillion said deputies took approximately 15 minutes to arrive after the incident. He also claims he requested that Louisiana State Police be called to investigate but was told they would not respond.
“Twenty officers showed up,” Couvillion said. “I’m in a side room, in a lot of pain in my neck, my arms and my wrist. I said, ‘I need you to call State Police.’ He said they don’t come out for a bar fight. I said, ‘That’s not true. This was an assault.’”
The handling of the investigation has drawn scrutiny from some observers who argue that deputies should not be responsible for investigating allegations involving their own sheriff.
“I believe they should’ve been called out,” said Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche. “You can’t have deputies investigating their boss.”
According to Couvillion, EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was treated and released early Saturday morning.
The allegations have sparked calls for accountability from some community groups. Members of Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany have stated that if the allegations are substantiated by investigators, Sheriff Smith should resign from office.
Attorney Eric Hessler, who represents Sheriff Smith, said the sheriff is fully cooperating with the investigation being conducted by the Attorney General’s Office.
As questions continue to swirl around the incident, many residents are asking the same thing: Where is the video?
With multiple cameras reportedly located inside the restaurant and investigators reviewing the footage, many believe the surveillance video could ultimately provide the clearest picture of what occurred. As of this publication, no footage has been publicly released.
The investigation remains active, and authorities have not yet released findings regarding what occurred inside the restaurant. Surveillance footage and witness statements are expected to play a significant role in determining the facts surrounding the incident.
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