YOUNGSVILLE: The Quest to Be Most Corrupt

Our government is full of corrupt individuals. But that’s not the root cause of society’s problems—it’s a symptom of something more profound. Whether the corruption came first or the public apathy that tolerates it, both feed into each other. And nowhere is that dynamic more visible than in—you guessed it—Youngsville.

Why is everybody always picking on me?

We often get asked, “Why are you always picking on Youngsville?” The answer’s simple: because the officials there keep doing incredibly stupid things. Their defense is just as bad: “It’s happening everywhere else, too.”

And they’re not wrong— Carencro, Crowley, Broussard, Killian, Breaux Bridge … we’ve covered them all. But there’s something unique about Youngsville. The city broadcasts a kind of smug superiority in social media posts and public comments. So if you’re going to act like you’re better, expect to be held to a higher standard.

The average person often believes that the person who gets elected is the most qualified or possesses some special knowledge of how things work. Elections are little more than a popularity contest, and most elected officials generally have no special knowledge of how government operates. One of our board members, Ross Little, says, “The most qualified candidate doesn’t always win; the one with the most votes does.”

Another Shooting

On June 14, 2025, at approximately 9:05 PM, a shooting was reported near the intersection of Lafayette Street and Copper Meadows in Youngsville. The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. Initial media reports indicated that the suspect had been arrested and booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center, but didn’t provide the name of the arrested suspect.

Days later, the mainstream media began reporting that the suspect who was arrested and booked was Zachary Segura, a police officer for the City of Carencro. Segura allegedly claimed he shot the victim in the chest from the back seat of the car. Segura was arrested on one count of negligent injuring, and bail was set at $5,000.

Residents of Youngsville are likely familiar with another former Youngsville Police Officer, Eric Segura, who has the same last name. As it turns out, not only is Eric Segura the father of Zachary Segura, but they are also co-workers, both employed by the City of Carencro as police officers.

Corruption: A Major Import and Export for the City

Eric Segura had a questionable past when he was hired to work for the Youngsville Police Department by former Chief of Police Rickey Boudreaux. Segura was eventually terminated by former Interim Chief of Police Cody Louviere after details of a scandal surrounding Segura came to light.

Citizens for a New Louisiana was the first media outlet to report on that alleged use of force scandal and cover-up involving Eric Segura. That report sparked a federal civil rights lawsuit that the City of Youngsville settled in a hurry. Even the FBI took a passing interest—until they moved on to shinier objects. Don’t act surprised, this isn’t the first and won’t be the last time a federal agency disappoints you.

After the incident and the ensuing cover-up became public knowledge, city officials began demanding action. The fact is that many of them had known about the incident for some time, but chose to be quiet about it. Much like the Kayla Reaux incident. Feeling the pressure, Mayor Ritter stated in an e-mail:

“It’s unconscionable to me that the department is not acting on the advice received, and I am strongly recommending that this receives the proper attention should discipline in fact be warranted.”

Matt Romero stated:

“I am sick and tired of us sitting on our hands and doing nothing. This is a horrific event that happened, and it doesn’t sit well with me and is weighing heavily on my conscience.”

Action needs to happen and happen soon!

Upon leaving the City of Youngsville, Segura briefly found work at Walmart before once again slithering his way back into police work. Segura was hired as a Police Officer for the City of Carencro, joining the ranks with several family members, including his son Zachary Segura and his cousin, Assistant Chief Trent Walker.

Eric Segura also arrested!

The Segura incident gets much worse, though. Zachary Segura was not the only Segura at the crime scene that night. So was Eric Segura. Multiple sources have confirmed that an arrest warrant was issued for the arrest of Eric Segura for his activities on June 14, 2025. We have submitted a records request to Youngsville Police Chief J.P. Broussard and Carencro Police Chief David Anderson, but we haven’t received a response. Nor do we expect to get one anytime soon. These things take time… we are often told. That just means we must put up as many roadblocks as possible and delay as long as possible.

A Youngsville Police Department officer encountered Eric Segura at the crime scene on June 14, 2025. Not only did Segura allegedly enter the crime scene, but he was also accused of assaulting the officer and resisting arrest. The YPD Officer then applied for an arrest warrant for Eric Segura, which was reviewed by a judicial official who determined that there was probable cause that Segura had broken the law.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of Eric Segura for aggravated assault, resisting an officer, and interfering with a law enforcement investigation. That warrant was executed on June 19, 2025, and Segura was booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center. That should have been the end of the story, but some wanted a different ending.

Corruption and Cover-ups

Multiple sources have confirmed that there was a concerted effort to intimidate a rookie police officer into having the warrant recalled. If this all sounds familiar, it is the same “pressure” that some accused former Chief of Police Rickey Boudreaux of putting on his staff during the Kayla Reaux incident. Obviously, the warrant wasn’t recalled because Segura was arrested, but efforts were made for the whole thing to go away—JUST LIKE BEFORE!

A police officer can’t just recall a warrant. A warrant is a judicial order from a judge or magistrate to take someone into custody. Only a judge or magistrate can recall a warrant that has been issued. So, did someone contact the 15th Judicial District Court Judges’ offices seeking to have the warrant recalled? We have an outstanding records request seeking those answers. At this time, the court has not confirmed receipt of our request.

Other sources have alleged a meeting between Chief J.P. Broussard, Chief David Anderson, and the District Attorney’s Office, during which the district attorney allegedly stated he would not prosecute the Segura matter anyway. WHAT? It’s incredible how decisions on prosecutions can be made instantly when politics are involved.

What is going on?

Regardless of how things transpired, there is a real question of whether the cover-up involved the commission of further crimes. To ensure the integrity of the criminal justice process, we have various laws, such as obstruction of justice, which, in certain instances, carry up to $100,000 and/or forty years in prison. Witness tampering is another that comes to mind.

It will be interesting to see if the same people who wanted Rickey Boudreaux investigated for the Kayla Reaux incident will sharpen their pitchforks, light their torches, and call attention to J.P. Broussard’s recent actions. As Marcus Aurelius mused some two millennia ago, “The actors change, but the play remains the same.” Youngsville may have received a change in leadership, but the same antics are being played out, and in many instances, the same people are benefiting.

So, how did we end up back in Youngsville yet again? Quite simply, because they keep doing stupid things.

There is more to this story, so we’ll keep digging, and we hope you’ll help shine a light on these dark corners of government. If you know something, say something. And if you’re tired of the same play with different actors, you’re not alone.

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