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WATCH: Councilman brandishes gun during Facebook rant directed at Zachary mayor
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ZACHARY - Tensions reached a boiling point in Zachary overnight, when a sitting councilman went on Facebook live questioning millions of dollars state auditors found were spent without a written contract for services. During that post, Councilman Lael Montgomery produced what appeared to be a gun.
Auditors discovered $3.5 million dollars was spent on maintenance and utility serices from July 2019 to May 2021 without written contracts. Mayor David Amrhein told the WBRZ Investigative Unit, auditors cleared the city and offered recommendations which the city implemented. He said the councilman involved, Lael Montgomery, helped approve the budget and never once has asked to sit down with the administration to hash out the questions he raised on social media.
Wednesday evening, Councilman Lael Montgomery went on Facebook asking questions about it before a back and forth began with Mayor David Amrhein's son, Blake, and Montgomery. Blake offered to meet him for a debate, and the two went back and forth in a series of threads which resulted in bickering and name calling.
Following those posts, Montgomery went on Facebook live and said, "tell the Mayor and his son little Blake, I'm the one. You can play with me if you want. I've got nine brothers and sisters, cousins, and go with your move dude," Montgomery said. "Why are y'all mad at me when y'all got caught stealing?"
"I'm out here at 5150 head first," Montgomery continues as he produces what appears to be a handgun.
"It's very disturbing," Zachary Mayor David Amrhein said. "That's what kids see and conflict resolution. I'm going to pull out a gun and threaten everybody."
Amrhein said both he and his son felt threatened by Montgomery's post. They exploring their options which could include filing police reports with law enforcement.
Montgomery told WBRZ he made the video after he also felt threatened by Amrhein's son on social media. Montgomery provided messages to WBRZ where he said Amrhein's son threatened him. Those messages show Amrhein's son offered to meet up with Montgomery anytime. The posts show Amrhein repeatedly questioned Montgomery's residency in the city.
"I never have regrets," Montgomery said. "I stand behind every decision I make and whatever consequences come to me. I accept them."
Montgomery said he took the meet-up as a threat to himself and his family and stands behind the video he posted. Montgomery said that video was ultimately removed by Facebook.
"I'm a veteran," Montgomery said. "America send us over to fight. So if I fight for the country, why can't this black man fight for his family? I love everybody. I wouldn't do little Blake or Amrhein nothing."
Blake Amrhein told WBRZ he asked to meet up for a debate about the issue and said he never threatened Montgomery.
Zachary Police Chief David McDavid said the case has been referred to the East Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Office since that's where Blake Amrhein lives.
This is a developing story. Watch WBRZ at 6 for the latest on this story.
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