Lafayette television station KATC reported a video was sent to it showing Eunice City Marshal Terry Darbonne and his wife having a physical altercation after the LSU-Alabama game.
The video was reported Thursday and the story stated it was submitted anonymously.
The report also stated Darbonne identified the woman in the video as his wife.
On Friday, Darbonne said it is not accurate that he punched his wife.
“We had an altercation, a verbal altercation, but I really can’t say much because it is under investigation,” Darbonne said.
In the TV report Darbonne said, “I tried to get her away from them (others in their group) and I put my hand out in a way just to get her back from everybody and she took a couple of steps back and she tripped and fell.”
Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot said he requested the investigation of the report be conducted by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. Fontenot cited his department’s close work with the marshal’s office as a reason to ask the sheriff to investigate.
Eddie Thibodeaux, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy chief and public information officer, stated in an email, “I can confirm that Chief Randy Fontenot has requested us to take over the investigation of the allegations against City Marshal Terry Darbonne. The sheriff has agreed and we have assigned a detective to investigate the case. No other information is being given out at this time.”
Darbonne said he and his wife are going through a peaceful divorce. “Me and my wife are friends,” he said.
“I would never hide anything,” he said.
In the TV report Darbonne said, “I have never ever laid my hand on my wife or anything, I would never punch anybody, especially a female.”
Darbonne, the fourth city marshal, was first elected in 2004 in a special election and won a full, six-year term in 2008. He was re-elected in 2014.
