Bossier Leaders to File Suit to Stop Weekend Trail Ride Event

The Bossier Parish Police Jury has voted unanimously to try to stop a weekend trail ride event in the Princeton area.  The Bossmane Riding Club is promoting a Friday night 4-wheeler ride and a Saturday trail ride. Bands have been booked and excitement has been building on the Bossmane Facebook page.

But the Bossier Police Jury has voted unanimously to instruct the parish attorney to file an immediate injunction in 26th Judicial District Court against the promoter and the landowner.

What will happen now?

The trail ride is planned for property located at 165 Fullwood Road in Princeton. The Police Jury has also voted to close Fullwood Road to everyone except local traffic for this Friday and Saturday.

Parish Administrator Bill Altimus told the jury that an application for the event, reportedly sponsored by Bossmane Riding Club, had been denied in April. Altimus said a committee that studies such requests had found serious problems with past similar events.

What are the concerns about this event?

Major Charles Gray with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office said the department has no problems with a trail ride, but pointed to an incident that occurred in DeSoto Parish last weekend as the primary reason for concern.

Things got a little crazy at this past Saturday's trail ride in Grand Cane. Shots were fired. One person was wounded and EMT's could not get to the victim because of the crowd, estimated to be close to 7,000.

“We don’t want happening here what happened in DeSoto Parish,” Gray told the jury. We have no problem with trail ride, it’s the after-party that goes on.”

“We have contact information, but we have not been able to contact them at all,” he said. “When the original permit was denied we thought it was over, but we kept seeing on social media that the party is still on.”

Huddleston adds: “Those (rides) start early but this is really an outdoor concert. That’s the event where shootings are occurring across the state,” he said. “Thousands show up, they’re drinking, some have weapons and there are arguments. That’s when problems arise.”

The Bossier Sheriff's Office plans to be on Fullwood Road this weekend to turn people around. But there could be other problems with the promoter because presale wrist bands have reportedly sold out.