[StBernard] Four face trial after fight in St. Bernard

[Westley Annis]

Four face trial after fight in St. Bernard

wwltv.com

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 6:36 PM

Updated yesterday at 6:51 PM

Mike Perlstein / Eyewitness News

CHALMETTE, La. - It began as a meeting of St. Bernard Parish officials
acting as peacemakers, but it ended in a brawl that sent three people to the
hospital.

Four defendants are now slated for misdemeanor trials Wednesday.

St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Greg Hauck and former
Wildlife and Fisheries Agent Desi Fulmer are neighbors.

They're also feuding neighbors. So, when the two had a dispute over where to
draw a boundary between their properties in Toca, they brought in some
mediators.

"It's almost comical because it hadn't gotten to a physical point until
so-called peace officers got involved," said Fulmer.

According to a police report, the scuffle broke out following a failed
meeting that involved a constable, justice of the peace and sheriff's office
major.

Fulmer stayed away to avoid a confrontation. Instead, he was marking his
property to put up a fence. That's when Hauck drove up in a huff.

"By that time Major Rousselle had pulled up, and the constable and justice
of the peace all in tow behind," said Fulmer.

Witnesses on both sides say the first punch came from Hauck's son, Greg
Hauck Jr. By the time the dust settled, Hauck Sr. was knocked unconscious.
His son was arrested by deputies called to the scene. Desi Fulmer and his
brother John went to the hospital with minor injuries, where they, too, were
arrested.

"It is unusual. And it's sad that these things spill over into this," said
Chief Deputy Jimmy Pohlman.

Pohlman couldn't say much about the case because of the pending criminal
charges and an ongoing, pending internal investigation of Hauck.

Hauck's attorney Alan Bouterie says his client is innocent. He says the
deputy never raised a fist in the fight, yet ended up in the hospital for
two days.

Pohlman, who considers both Fulmer and Hauck friends, says he can only hope
the two men can ultimately resolve their differences.

"They're both good guys," he said. "They're just not good neighbors to one
another, I guess."

Hauck and his son, along with the Fulmer brothers, all face charges of
disturbing the peace by fighting. The State Attorney General's Office is
prosecuting the case after the St. Bernard DA's office recused itself.