With the 2026 Washington Parish Fair now history, fair officials report good crowds that matched the good weather.
Headline musical acts of Frank Foster and LeAnn Rimes attracted excellent audiences, and other aspects of the Fair also reported good attendance.
While the Fair itself ran smoothly from start to finish, there was an incident that caused concern.
Bogalusa police arrested a man who had allegedly threatened to go to the fairgrounds and shoot someone.
Police said the threat was connected to a personal dispute, rather than being a threat to commit a mass shooting at the fair.
Nonetheless, Bogalusa officers located the man who had reportedly made the threat. When they located him, they observed ammunition in his car and received permission to search the vehicle. The officers reported finding a modified .22 caliber rifle, ammunition, and suspected marijuana in the car.
Brian Paquin, 45, of Bogalusa was arrested and charged with menacing, driving on a suspended license, and possession of marijuana.
Bogalusa Police supervisors contacted Franklinton Police Chief Justin Brown at the Fairgrounds about the shooting threat. Brown then relayed the information to his officers and to the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office. Subsequently, people who may have been targets of the threats were warned.
In addition, a second person who may have been connected to the threat was notified that he is now prohibited from entering the fairgrounds for the remainder of 2026.
As upsetting as the threat was, the incident provided a good example of fast cooperation among the parish’s law enforcement agencies. Chief Brown said, “All agencies, working together, ensured the quick and decisive safety of our visitors and volunteers at the fair.”
Bogalusa Police Chief James Smith was also pleased with the rapid response to the threat. He noted that his officers, the Franklinton officers and the Sheriff’s deputies “worked fast to bring what could have been a tragic situation under control.”
There were two additional incidents at the Fairgrounds during the Fair.
In another incident during the Fair, authorities were notified about a parking attendant having a seizure. Northshore EMS and Sheriff's deputies responded. But when officers arrived to help the attendant, two other parking attendants proceeded to interfere with the officers. The incident was related to Chief Brown, who went to where the parking attendant was.
The parking attendants who were interfering with the officers were relieved of their duties by Chief Brown. They became belligerent, so both attendants were placed in handcuffs and issued a summons for disturbing the peace.
The chief then evaluated the parking attendant who had the seizure. He was awake, alert and not exhibiting signs of a seizure. He refused medical attention and he said that he had just started a new medication.
Brown, who is also chairman of Fair security, offered the parking attendant a different position where he wouldn't be exposed to flashing lights. The chief instructed the lead parking attendant to watch him and to alert Brown if he showed any additional signs of illness.
Apparently recovered, the attendant remained at his post for the remainder of the fair without further incident.
The Franklinton Police Department also received a 911 call about toddler locked in a vehicle at the Fair. Officers in the area did not have the equipment to unlock the vehicle, so the caller was given two options: Police could break the window if it was an emergency or they could notify a wrecker which was stationed a few blocks away and had the proper unlocking tools. The caller would have to pay for the wrecker driver to unlock the vehicle.
The caller refused both options and stated they were ridiculous. A few minutes later, the caller was contacted again by Franklinton Police to check the status and again the caller was offered options. The caller told police that someone was found who had the proper tools and everything was OK.
But the caller later made a social media post criticizing the Franklinton Police Department. The police were contacted by a New Orleans news outlet about the incident. In addition, the caller filed a formal complaint which, Chief Brown said, will be reviewed by FPD’s internal affairs officer.
The chief noted that a separate investigation has been initiated as to whether negligence may have played a factor in placing the toddler in danger by the parent.
