LaFleur, wife sorry for embarrassing university

Corrine LaFleur, wife of Southern University athletic director Greg LaFleur, said though she did call police after a Jan. 15 argument with her husband, his ability to lead the athletic department or his family should not be questioned.
According to a report authored by Officer Charles T. Karras Jr. of the Baton Rouge Police Department, two policemen responded to a call made by Mrs. LaFleur on Jan. 15 around 6:19 p.m. The report stated she said LaFleur had thrown her to the ground several times and hit her in the head after the couple argued. The report also stated she begged the police not to take LaFleur to jail because he would lose his job. However, Mrs. LaFleur was informed of state laws regarding domestic violence.
LaFleur, 47, left before the police arrived at their home, but turned himself into authorities and was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail on Jan. 24, after he was informed by police they were seeking to arrest him on a count of simple battery.
“What happened was an unfortunate situation,” he said. “It is a private matter, but I do understand I am in a high-profiled position and I apologize for embarrassing the university.”
LaFleur became the head of Southern athletics in July 2005. His contract with Southern, which has a base pay of $110,000, does not specifically address issues of morality or conduct, but he must abide to those directed by the state, SU System Board of Supervisors and NCAA.
“I would feel responsible if he were fired over this,” Mrs. LaFleur, 28, said. “It was a ‘heat of the moment’ decision and had it not been for my faulty reasoning, the police would not have been involved.”
SUBR Chancellor Edward R. Jackson said he understood the serious nature of the incident, but as for now, he was allowing the LaFleur family to handle the situation.
“It’s a private matter and that’s how we’re treating it,” Jackson said. “Beyond that, the university has no official comment other than that. It’s between husband and wife.”
Mrs. LaFleur said the argument has been blown out of proportion by local media, along with a few wrong statements in the police report written by Karras. She said her husband did not punch her in the head as the officer stated in the report and talked to Police Chief Jeff LeDuff about the discrepancies. The report also has LaFleur as a black male, with a black flattop hairstyle. He has a bald head.
LeDuff said Mrs. LaFleur contacted him, but they only discussed procedures. He did say he would review the police report, but backs the current report and his officers.
Mrs. LaFleur said although she called the police to “scare” her husband, she thought authorities would “only make them spend time apart.” She said she didn’t realize LaFleur would be arrested.
“It was an argument that was ridiculous. I didn’t even realize it would be considered as domestic violence,” she said.
She said the argument started after LaFleur said he wanted the family to travel to Ville Platte to see his family. Mrs. LaFleur said she did not want to go and the two began arguing. She said she went into a room and LaFleur followed her and took her son from her. She then grabbed his arm and fell on the floor when he pushed her off and she hit her head.
“Some of it (the report) was wrong,” she said. “He had a baby in his arms. How could he hit me in the head?”
Mrs. LaFleur said she didn’t know why it took over a week for LaFleur to be contacted by police. According to her, she and her husband had been to many events in the city throughout the week, including a United Way event and LaFleur attended the Southern-Alabama State basketball game the night before he turned himself in.
“They (police) knew where he worked,” she said. “I don’t understand why they took so long. Nobody contacted me afterwards.”
Mrs. LaFleur said the argument was no indication of dents in their marriage, which is overall “bliss.” She said she was sorry for embarrassing Southern and causing hurt to him and their families. She also added she did not want her explanation to undermine domestic violence.
“Domestic violence is a very serious issue and I don’t want to make light of it,” she said. “But having an argument go further than it should with Greg is not the same as a husband coming home and beating his wife for not having dinner on the table.
“My husband is a good man and athletic director,” she said. “It’s just that what happened got put in the media because he’s high-profiled. And I just want people to know what really happened.”