Livingston Parish deputy arrested, accused of driving boat while intoxicated

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy was arrested by agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) on March 22, 2025.

Cedric Brignac, 42, was charged with operating a vessel while impaired.

According to an incident report, agents were patrolling Lake Maurepas in Livingston Parish when they received complaints of illegal night hunting. Around 7 p.m., agents saw a vessel operated by Brignac traveling at a near standstill speed. After agents checked on Brignac and the passengers from a distance to make sure their boat was operating properly, they parted ways.

Minutes after the encounter, LDWF agents heard a boat quickly approaching a “No Wake Zone” near them. As the boat approached, they learned it was Brignac’s boat.

Brignac appeared confused as to why the agents were exiting the “No Wake Zone.” The agents reported their boat was too tall to pass under the bridge, but suggested Brignac continue through the area.

According to authorities, Brignac later showed signs of disorientation as he nearly crashed into a wooden boatway barrier and had slurred speech.

The incident report states that Brignac’s boat was close enough to the agents’ that they could smell the odor of alcohol coming from Brignac’s direction. The agents also saw beer cans scattered throughout the boat.

Agents decided to conduct a boating safety check, which partly requires presenting life jackets and a fire extinguisher. While LDWF searched for the life jackets, Brignac struggled to keep his balance.

At one point, agents asked Brignac if he had been drinking. He responded with, “Yeah, about four Natural Lights.”

Agents took Brignac to the shore to conduct several more field tests. As he walked, he continued to sway and had a strong odor of alcohol.

Brignac was taken to the Killian Police Department before being taken to the Livingston Parish Courthouse.

Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard released the following statement about the LDWF investigation.

“The off-duty incident was self-reported by Brignac (Training Division),” Ard said. “The matter was turned over to the District Attorney’s Office for processing, just as all other cases are. Disciplinary action by this department will be decided and administered at the conclusion of the DA’s proceedings.”

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