Lafayette Developer Glenn Stewart Charged With 2nd Degree Battery After Fight; Woman Treated At Hospital [VIDEO, PICTURES]

Lafayette Police say they have arrested Glenn Stewart on a charge of second degree battery in connection with a fight that broke out at the Independent Parade on Mardi Gras.

Corporal Paul Mouton with Lafayette Police says Erin Fitzgerald, of Lafayette, went up to a float parked on Surrey Street and tried to remove a banner from the float. Mouton says float rider and Lafayette developer Glenn Stewart began arguing with Fitzgerald about what she was doing. Then, John St. Julien, another Lafayette man, intervened and the two men began fighting, police say.

During the altercation, police say Fitzgerald was hit in the face. She was treated at a local hospital.

St. Julien was issued misdemeanor summons for Disturbing the Peace by Fighting. Fitzgerald was also later issued a summons for Disturbing the Peace and Disorderly Conduct. The incident remains under investigation.

Walter Pierce, managing editor of The Independent Weekly -- the local newspaper for which Fitzgerald's stepmother and father work, released a written statement about the assault on Wednesday:

Our first concern is of course the health and well-being of Erin. She’s a member of our family and she suffered serious physical injuries yesterday. We worry that she may have long-term health repercussions. That said, we think it’s important that Lafayette understands that only one person is responsible for this incident: Dr. Glenn Stewart. He’s a physician, and he beat a 41-year-old mom and school teacher into unconsciousness and then stood over his unconscious victim and snapped photos of her with his cell phone. And when he was done, he repaired the damage to his float rather than the damage he inflicted on his victim. Our community needs to be protected from Glenn Stewart.

The paper alleges that Stewart is the one to have assaulted Fitzgerald and claims he then took photos of her. Fitzgerald's father and stepmother, Steve and Cherry Fisher May, are the newspaper's publishers. The newspaper also released several photos, including one of Fitzgerald's injuries suffered in the attack:

The float on which Stewart was riding in the parade allegedly featured a photo of Fisher May along with a reference to her 2010 DUI arrest. The pair have long been at odds over Fisher May's coverage for the newspaper in regards to Stewart.