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A waterfront brawl in Montgomery, Alabama, went viral. What happened and why?

The riverfront worker who was attacked said he “held on for dear life” as a group of white boaters jumped him in a large brawl that broke out at the Montgomery Riverfront in Alabama on Aug. 5.

In a handwritten account he filed with law enforcement after the Aug. 5 melee and obtained by NBC News, Dameion Pickett recalled what happened the day when the men refused to move their boat so a dinner cruise riverboat could dock.

“A tall, older white guy came over and hit me in the face. I took my hat off and threw it in the air,” he wrote. “Somebody hit me from behind. I started choking the older guy in front of me so he couldn’t anymore, pushing him back at the same time.”

Pickett has not made a public statement regarding the incident and did not respond to NBC News' request for comment.

Videos that went viral on social media showed a group of white men attacking Pickett. The footage caused an outcry, with the Montgomery mayor addressing the altercation and police issuing arrest warrants.

Allen Todd, 23, and Zachery Shipman, 25, have been charged with one misdemeanor count of assault in the third degree, a spokesperson for the Montgomery Police Department said.

Another man, Richard Roberts, 48, faces two third-degree assault charges and turned himself in on Aug. 8.

A fourth suspect in the case, Mary Todd, 21, turned herself in on Aug. 10 and was charged with misdemeanor third-degree assault.

A fifth suspect, Reggie Ray, 42, turned himself in on Aug. 11 and was charged with disorderly conduct. Police had previously sought Ray after he was seen wielding a folding chair in the melee on social media videos.

So what exactly happened? Read on for a full explanation of this now-viral incident.

What happened at the Montgomery Riverfront

A large brawl broke out Saturday, Aug. 5, shortly before 7 p.m. at the Alabama capital after Pickett attempted to clear a dock along the river so that the Harriott II Riverboat could dock, witnesses told NBC News . The brawl was fueled by alcohol and adrenaline, witnesses also said.

When a group of rowdy boaters refused to move their pontoon at the Montgomery Riverfront, they attacked Pickett when he untied their boat to make way for the riverboat, witnesses said.

In video shared with NBC News , after a group of what appears to be white men ran along the dock to attack the worker, who is Black, more people joined in and appeared to defend Pickett. Other footage shared with NBC News shows people punching and shoving one another, with one person falling into the water as police struggled to contain the chaos.

The Riverfront is a popular destination with a park, stadium, amphitheater and riverboat.

What police say about the fight

Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert, in a news conference on Aug. 8 , confirmed that a group of private white boaters had attacked a Black dockworker, identified as Pickett. Later, police would identify Pickett as the assistant boat captain of the riverboat.

He had been trying to move the private boaters' pontoon to make way for the riverboat.

As passengers aboard the riverboat — more than 200 — waited at least 30 minutes, Pickett tried to get the rowdy private boaters to move. Several members of the private pontoon group then attacked Pickett, Albert said.

Albert added that police arrived on the scene at 7:18 p.m. local time — about 18 minutes after the riverboat captain had called. He said 13 people were detained, questioned and then released.

What did the attacked dockworker say about the incident?

In a handwritten statement filed with police and obtained by NBC News, Pickett said he asked the group “five or six times” to move their boat.

When he and a dockhand were ignored and given the finger, he says, they untied the group’s pontoon boat, moved it “three steps to the right” and re-tied it to a post so the Harriott II could dock.

“By that time, two people ran up behind me,” Pickett wrote, adding that a man in a red hat yelled, “Don’t touch that boat motherf---er or we will beat your ass.”

He said the men continued to threaten him and then one of them called another man over.

“They both were very drunk,” Pickett wrote, adding that then the pontoon boat owner went over “started getting loud … He got into my face. ‘This belongs to the f---ing public.’ I told him this was a city dock.”

That’s when the brawl began. Pickett wrote, “A tall, older white guy came over and hit me in the face. I took my hat off and threw it in the air. Somebody hit me from behind. I started choking the older guy in front of me so he couldn’t anymore, pushing him back at the same time.”

Adding, “Then the guy in the red shorts came up and tackled me … I went to the ground. I think I hit one of them.”

Sharing more recollections from the fight, he said, “I can’t tell you how long it lasted. I grabbed one of them and just held on for dear life.”

Pickett was eventually helped by other people but noticed the brawl was getting out of hand, writing, “One of my co-workers had jumped into the water and was pushing people and fighting.”

He added that his nephew joined the melee and he had also seen his sister being choked during the fight.

As more chaos ensued, the riverboat had not been tied to the dock but Pickett helped the passengers off the boat. He wrote that he apologized “for the inconvenience. They all said I did nothing wrong.”

“Some of them were giving me cards with their names and numbers on it. Some said they had it all on film, so I pointed them out to MPD,” he added. After the altercation, he was treated at the emergency room where he was treated for bruised ribs and bumps on his head.

What witnesses say about the brawl

Witnesses told NBC News a similar version of events. Christa Owen said she was aboard the Harriott II with her husband and daughter when the brawl broke out.

“What was hard is we were all on the boat and witnessing our poor crewman being attacked by these guys, and we couldn’t do anything about it,” Owen said.

“It was really difficult to watch, and, like I said, we felt helpless, because we were forced to be spectators,” Owen added.

Owen was among those who recorded the altercations, explaining that it was “inexcusable behavior.”

Additionally, Leslie Mawhorter also on Harriott II, added: “They just didn’t think the rules applied to them. It was so avoidable. This never had to have happened. Everything just spiraled from there.”

“I knew something was going to go down, because their attitude was just, ‘You can’t tell us what to do.’ They were going to be confrontational regardless of who you were,” Mawhorter continued.

Have police made any arrests?

Four men and one woman are facing charges , according to police: Richard Roberts, 48; Reggie Ray, 42; Allen Todd, 23; and Zachery Shipman, 25, and Mary Todd, 21.

“There was no need for this event to take the path it did,” Albert told reporters earlier this week. “The people of Montgomery, we’re better than that. We’re a fun city, and we don’t want this type of activity to shed a dark eye on what this city’s all about.”

Was the fight racially motivated?

In the press conference on Aug. 8, Albert said investigators do not believe the incident was racially motivated.

He said that the local FBI and district attorney’s offices are involved in the ongoing investigation. 

“I don’t think you can judge any community by any one incident. I think it’s important for us to address this as an isolated incident, one that was avoidable,” Albert said. “One that was brought on by individuals who chose the wrong path of action.”

What the mayor of Montgomery said about the altercation

On Sunday, Aug. 6, Mayor Steven L. Reed released a statement saying that “justice will be served” after individuals attacked “a man who was doing his job.”

“Last night, the Montgomery Police Department acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job. Warrants have been signed and justice will be served,” the statement posted on social media read. “This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred. As our police department investigates these intolerable actions, we should not become desensitized to violence of any kind in our community.”

“Those who choose violent actions will be held accountable by our criminal justice system,” the statement concluded.

Reed shared how he felt about the incident during a press conference on Aug. 7.

"I feel like it’s an unfortunate incident. Our statement that we put out the other day is that it’s something that shouldn’t have happened and it’s something that we’re investigating right now," Reed said. "We’ll continue to go through that process before we take any additional steps."

When asked if Reed thought the incident was racially charged, he said the brawl is still under investigation, and that authorities are "investigating all angles."

The investigation is ongoing.

EDITOR'S NOTE (Aug. 11, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. ET): Previous police statements listed the man attacked as Damien Pickett and one of the suspects as Zachary Shipman. On Aug. 11, officials corrected their names' spellings to Dameion Pickett and Zachery Shipman. This story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling.

Liz Calvario is a Los Angeles-based reporter and editor for TODAY.com who covers entertainment, pop culture and trending news.

Anna Kaplan is a news and trending reporter for TODAY.com.

Sam Kubota is a senior digital editor and journalist for TODAY Digital based in Los Angeles. She joined NBC News in 2019.

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Large brawl in Alabama as people defend Black riverboat worker against white assailants

Fight appeared to start when a worker objected to a pontoon boat preventing a larger river boat from docking, and was attacked by a group of white men

A dramatic brawl on the Montgomery, Alabama , riverfront pitted people standing up for a Black riverboat worker against a group of white people who began beating him for telling them to move their illegally parked pontoon.

The Saturday night fight, which was captured in multiple videos posted to social media, appeared to unfold largely along racial lines. And many social media users celebrated footage of the riverfront dust-up, which showed the white assailants get the tables turned on them by Black people who rushed to the riverboat worker’s aid.

“This is not … 1963 anymore,” read one comment, alluding to the year before the signing of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibited discrimination on the basis of race.

Montgomery police confirmed they responded to reports of a disturbance on the 200 block of Coosa Street in the area of the Montgomery riverfront park. They said officers had “located a large group of subjects engaged in a physical altercation”.

“Several subjects have been detained, and any charges are pending,” a police statement added, without elaborating.

The brawl appeared to start when a pontoon boat prevented a larger river boat from docking. When a Black riverboat worker objected, he was attacked by a group of white men .

The conflict escalated when a group of about six Black men from the riverboat confronted the white party. Cheered on by bystanders, they beat three white men and two women, at least one of whom could be seen first striking others by running up and throwing her body into them from behind.

At least two of the women jumped or were pushed into the river. A third was beaten over the head with a folding chair, video showed.

After the arrival of police officers, the brawl subsided – and then briefly reignited before police began cuffing the participants, Black and white.

NBC station WSFA of Montgomery reported that four arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the altercation and “there’s a possibility more will follow after the review of additional video”.

Police also appealed to the public for help in determining what had happened.

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Montgomery’s mayor, Steven Reed, said in a statement on Sunday that several people involved in the fighting on Saturday evening have been detained.

“Justice will be served,” he said. “This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred.”

As authorities try to untangle the incident, a man who was seen swimming across the river to the aid of the riverboat worker was partly identified as “Aaren”.

“In the face of adversity, Aaren selflessly came to the rescue of a fellow colleague, showcasing courage beyond his years,” a statement from his publicist, Makina Lashea, read.

An update on the investigation is expected on Monday afternoon.

Most viewed

What we know about the Montgomery Riverfront brawl

A group of White boaters attacked a Black co-captain on Saturday on a dock at Riverfront Park in Montgomery, Ala., sparking a massive brawl that resulted in assault charges and the city’s mayor calling for justice to be served to the boaters “for attacking a man who was doing his job.”

Three White men were charged with misdemeanor assault over the brawl after 13 people were initially detained by police for interviews , Montgomery Police Chief Darryl J. Albert said at a news conference with Mayor Steven L. Reed (D) on Tuesday. Those charged were Richard Roberts, 48; Allen Todd, 23; and Zachery Shipman, 25. Several people were detained after video clips of the brawl went viral on social media over the weekend.

Reed said in a statement Sunday that police “acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job.” He called the fight “an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred.”

Here’s what we know so far about the incident:

• Men charged in Montgomery brawl had been ‘trouble’ for riverboat, captain says August 10, 2023 Men charged in Montgomery brawl had been ‘trouble’ for riverboat, captain says August 10, 2023
• How oral storytelling helped a blind man see the Montgomery brawl August 12, 2023 How oral storytelling helped a blind man see the Montgomery brawl August 12, 2023
• Racial tensions linger in Montgomery after dock brawl August 12, 2023 Racial tensions linger in Montgomery after dock brawl August 12, 2023

Mayor vows justice after massive brawl breaks out on Alabama riverfront

Multiple video clips of a brawl on the riverfront in Montgomery, Alabama, went viral on social media Sunday night, and the mayor reacted with a vow that justice would prevail.

Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed said in a statement Sunday that several people involved in the fighting Saturday evening have been detained.

"Justice will be served," he said.

NBC affiliate WSFA of Montgomery reported that four arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the altercation.

It appears to show brawling that split combatants along racial lines. The fighting appeared to follow a riverboat's attempt to dock where a pontoon boat was moored.

A man who was apparently from the riverboat walked to the pontoon and exchanged words with someone, precipitating an all-out brawl between people associated with each of the watercraft.

Reed indicated that the man from the riverboat was attacked and that those who committed violence against him would face the justice system.

"The Montgomery Police Department acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job," he said.

Police told WSFA that the fight was reported at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The city's Riverfront along the Alabama River is a summertime draw that features the riverboat, an amphitheater, a stadium and a park, among other attractions.

Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 

Alabama Boaters Charged After Attack On Black Co-Captain Spurred Riverfront Brawl

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

Three white men have been charged with misdemeanor assault after a massive brawl in Montgomery, Alabama, that began when white boaters attacked the Black co-captain of a riverboat.

All three men have been charged with third-degree assault, Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert announced Tuesday. They are Richard Robins, 48; Alan Todd, 23; and Zachary Shipman, 25.

The incident began at around 7 p.m. on Saturday after the riverboat, The Harriott II, attempted to dock in its usual spot but was blocked by a pontoon boat. The riverboat, which was carrying more than 200 passengers, waited nearly 40 minutes for the smaller boat to move, Albert said.

Damien Pickett, the co-captain of The Harriott II, left the ship to speak to the owners of the private boat directly on the dock, Albert said. Video footage shows a shirtless white man running up and hitting Pickett, and then several other white men swarming and pummeling the worker.

“The co-captain was doing his job and just trying to move the boat where it could park safely,” Albert said.

Multiple videos show the moment Pickett is attacked, which led to an all-out brawl as others, including workers with The Harriott II, came to Pickett’s defense. That included a 16-year-old identified as Aaren, who was seen on video jumping into the water and swimming to Pickett to defend him.

Following the brawl, 13 individuals were detained and later released, Albert said. He added that “the investigation is ongoing and more charges are likely.”

Albert also called for 42-year-old Reggie Gray to turn himself in to police for further interviews. Police identified Gray as the Black man seen on video wielding a folding chair and at one point striking a white woman as she was down on the ground.

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Three white men facing charges in Alabama riverboat brawl are identified as police share detailed account

The montgomery police chief said that the conflict started between a pontoon boat owner and a co-captain of the harriott ii riverboat, article bookmarked.

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Police in Montgomery, Alabama, have unveiled new details of a waterfront brawl captured on stunning viral video over the weekend - including the names of three white men currently facing charges.

Mongtomery Police Chief Darryl Albert addressed the incident at a press conference on Tuesday, confirming it all began with a private pontoon boat blocking a tourist cruise ship.

Chief Albert said that the Harriott II cruise ship, which takes passengers for 2-hour rides along the Alabama River, had 227 passengers on board when it tried to dock in its designated space, when it noticed a pontoon boat was docked there.

Damian Pickett, the Harriott’s co-captain, waited for 40 to 45 minutes for the boat to move. A smaller boat picked up Mr Pickett and brought him to the pier to try to have a conversation with the pontoon boat owner so that he could park the large vessel in its spot.

That’s when the co-captain “was attacked by several members of the private boat” after they “confronted him in a hostile manner,” the police chief said. Mr Pickett “was doing his job,” he added. The videos of the incident that ensued have now gone viral.

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A video posted on Twitter by Alabama Political Reporter’s Josh Moon shows a white man coming up the co-captain and punching him. More people are then seen piling on the alleged dock worker, hitting and punching him.

Mr Moon posted subsequent footage of even more people attacking each other. “Here’s part of what happened after the riverboat docked and the other workers and people on the boat were able to get to the fight,” the journalist wrote. The footage captured one man grabbing a foldable chair and then hitting people over the head with it.

The police said that in addition to Mr Pickett, an employee on the smaller vessel that transported him to the dock, a 16-year-old white male, was “assaulted by members of the pontoon boat.”

On the night of the incident, police detained 13 individuals; the interviews lasted several hours, but all parties involved were released.

Now, three people have warrants out for arrest. Richard Roberts, a 48-year-old white male has two warrants for assault, Allen Todd, a 23-year-old white male has one warrant for assault, and Zachary Shipman, a 25-year-old white male, also has one warrant for assault.

All individuals with warrants were members of the pontoon boat, the police chief said. The mayor said they are not residents of Montgomery, Alabama.

The police chief said one person is in custody with the Selma Police Department, and two still have to turn themselves in within the hour, but he did not identify who had already been detained.

Chief Albert also called for Reggie Gray, who is seen “wielding that folding chair” in videos, to contact police for further interviews.

The police chief added that the Montgomery Police Department is working with the state police agency, DA’s office and local FBI office; he said ”more charges are likely” as the investigation is ongoing.

He added that the police “examined whether there was enough to file hate crime charges” but these are the applicable charges with the footage they have so far. Chief Albert encouraged people to keep sending videos of the incident to the Montgomery Police Department.

“This is not indicative of who we are as a city. We are much better than that,” the police chief added. He called the incident “disturbing.”

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed released a statement following the brawl, saying that officers detained “several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job”. He continued, “This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred. As our police department investigates these intolerable actions, we should not become desensitized to violence of any kind in our community. Those who choose violent actions will be held accountable by our criminal justice system.”

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Man accuses riverboat co-captain of assault during Alabama riverfront brawl

The Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A Black riverboat co-captain at the center of an Alabama riverfront brawl that drew national attention has been accused of misdemeanor assault in the melee by one of the white boaters charged in the fight.

Court records show one of the white men accused of assaulting the co-captain during the August brawl filed a complaint last month saying the co-captain hit him first during the chaotic melee. The co-captain faces a charge of misdemeanor assault, according to court records.

"I was not trying to fight," the man wrote in a statement. The complaint was filed Oct. 26 ahead of the man's Nov. 16 trial on a misdemeanor assault charge of hitting and kicking the riverboat co-captain.

The August riverfront melee in Montgomery drew national attention after bystanders filmed white boaters hitting a Black riverboat co-captain and others rushing to his defense. Video of the fight was shared widely online, sparking countless memes and parodies.

Montgomery police said the brawl began when the white boaters refused to move their pontoon boat so the city-owned Harriott II riverboat could dock in its designated space. The boat's co-captain said he was attacked after moving the pontoon boat a few feet to make way for the riverboat.

Five other people were previously charged in the brawl. Two white boaters previously pleaded guilty to charges of misdemeanor assault or harassment. Three other people, including a Black man who was filmed swinging a folding chair, have upcoming court dates.

• Anniston/Gadsden

Montgomery Riverfront Park brawl: What we know today after 4 charged in videoed fight

• Updated: Aug. 10, 2023, 4:19 p.m. |
• Published: Aug. 07, 2023, 6:00 a.m.

• Jeremy Gray | [email protected]
• Lawrence Specker | [email protected]
• Carol Robinson | [email protected]

A Saturday night brawl at Montgomery’s riverfront captured in multiple videos was national news Sunday but many questions still surround the incident.

On Tuesday, police said three people had been charged in connection to the incident: Richard Roberts, 48, two counts of third-degree assault; Allen Todd, 23, one count of third-degree assault, and Zachary Shipman, 25, one count of third-degree assault. All charges are misdemeanors.

Here is full coverage of the case

Roberts was in custody on Tuesday; Todd and Shipman surrendered on Wednesday .

A fourth man - 42-year-old Reggie Gray - is sought for questioning. The chief described him as the man seen on video “wielding” a folding chair and hitting a woman over the head with that chair.

On Thursday, police said Mary Todd, 21, surrendered to authorities on a third-degree assault charge . She is being held in Montgomery’s Municipal Jail.

The two victims told police the group of white men who attacked them were drunk and yelled racist slurs.

Here’s what we know today:

These white people jumped this black security guard at the Riverfront. The staff got off the boat and it turned into WWE Smackdown. I’m so proud of Montgomery 😭😂 pic.twitter.com/4DG5bShXfz — Housatlantavegas (@_dreadadon) August 6, 2023

How did this all begin?

Montgomery police said they were called at about 7 p.m. Saturday to the 200 block of Coosa Street, the area of Montgomery Riverfront Park, on a disturbance.

“At the scene, they located a large group of subjects engaged in a physical altercation. Several subjects have been detained and any charges are pending,” a police statement late Saturday night read.

Multiple videos posted to social media suggest the brawl started when a pontoon boat stopped at the riverf ront, preventing a riverboat from docking there.

Witnesses said a riverboat worker was attacked by people onboard the pontoon boat.

A Black versus White brawl took place at Montgomery Alabama, racial tension erupted when a black securiry guard was attacked by a group of white men. [TSHEGO] pic.twitter.com/EY7QzM6Tgx — TSHEGO (@TSHEGOMEDIA2021) August 7, 2023

What do the videos show?

A video clip shared by Josh Moon , a reporter for the Alabama Political Reporter, shows the scuffle beginning as a Black man who appears to be in a docks worker uniform talks to a white man.

Another white man -- shirtless -- strikes or shoves the Black man.

The incident appeared to unfold largely along racial lines.

The dock worker and the man who struck him engaged in a shoving match before the first white man placed a hand on the Black man in an apparent effort to separate the two.

Two more shirtless white men charged in, one tackling the Black man to the dock and the other piling on, rapidly joined by a fourth shirtless white man, one of whom shoved away another white man who seemed to try to intervene.

Two white women also were there, though it wasn’t clear whether they were supporting the four-on-one fight then in progress or trying to intervene.

A large and vocal audience, consisting of people on the riverboat from which the first video was shot, gathered, as did a crowd overlooking from the dock.

In this screencapture of a video, provided by The Associated Press, Anwar Price (wearing a blue shirt with a yellow Nike logo) attempts to separate people involved in the riverfront brawl in Montgomery, Alabama, on Saturday, Aug. 5. Price was among the people who attempted to break up the violence.

In the first video, the fight begins to break up as a Black bystander joins in. Another jumps off the riverboat, swimming to join in.

The first Black man, identifiable by his black shorts and white shirt, is physically confronted by one of the women.

A second video , taken moments later, shows a group of Black men running off the riverboat.

They converge on a pontoon boat that apparently carried some of the parties involved in the incident.

Within seconds fighting erupts again, between two white men and white woman who were on the pontoon boat, another white man and white woman who appeared to be trying to get to it, and more than a dozen Black men and women.

Police officers or uniformed security guards can then be seen trying to break things up.

The brawling continued for several moments before tapering off. At that point officers began cuffing participants, Black and white.

Who was involved?

The person seen swimming is a 16-year-old identified only as Aaren, a statement from publicist Makina Lashea read.

“In the face of adversity, Aaren selflessly came to the rescue of a fellow colleague, showcasing courage beyond his years,” the statement from Lashea read.

“Aaren’s unwavering commitment brings immense pride to his parents, leaving him feeling grateful and touched by the strong support of the community. With his sights set on the future, he is eagerly preparing for a successful upcoming school year.”

Chase Shipman, the owner of Vasser’s Mini-Mart in Selma, posted on social media that he was there and “tried to stop it and realized that I could not, so I tried to get away,” The Selma Times-Journal reported .

“I have a business to run and represent and no charges were filed against me because I was not involved,” he wrote, according to that report.

The Times-Journal reported that some commenters disputed his account.

A 67-year-old man on Monday “The Think Tank” with Chris Coleman on V 99.5 in Birmingham he was onboard the riverboat as part of a class reunion from Robert C. Hatch High School in Uniontown.

The man, who did not give his name, said the incident “ made me proud of Black people ... that privilege thing is over with.”

Screengrab from Montgomery riverfront brawl.

“There’s no greater love than a man who gives his life for another man,” he told Coleman. “Everybody out there was willing to give their life for that man. It was no joke.”

Anwar Price, a 42-year-old Montgomery resident, was with his 14-year-old daughter, watching a back-to-school event along the Montgomery riverside, when he saw the melee develop and then explode.

Price said he never felt endangered during the 20 minutes he spent among the flying fists and swinging chairs.

“There was no harm done to me,” he said. “Once I got in there, in the middle of everything, they saw I wasn’t trying to bring that type of energy.”

“A lot of people are trying to promote this as about racism, and I don’t really think this was a racism thing ,” said Price, who is Black.

“Honestly, I think this was just a matter of doing the right thing versus doing the wrong thing,” Price said. “It was because of a series of bad choices.”

What happens next?

“Justice will be served. This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred,” Mayor Steven Reed said on Sunday.

“But as in regards to public safety here in Montgomery, it’s always at the forefront of our mind and we appreciate everything that the community has done to help us in this situation as they do with incidents each and every day.”

A reporter asked Reed if he believes the incident was racially motivated.

“We can’t confirm or deny it at this time,” Reed said. “We’re investigating all angles of this and we’re talking to people who were there as we speak.”

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Five people plead not guilty to Montgomery riverfront brawl charges

Five people charged in a Montgomery riverfront brawl that drew national attention as white boaters fought with Black riverboat crew members have pleaded not guilty to assault and disorderly conduct charges. 

 Four white boaters, who police said were filmed hitting or shoving a Black riverboat captain on Aug. 5 in Montgomery, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault charges. A Black man, who police said was filmed swinging a folding chair and hitting people in the subsequent melee, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges. 

Montgomery Municipal Court records show the not guilty pleas were entered last week. 

Videos of the brawl were widely shared on social media and spawned a multitude of memes, jokes, parodies, reenactments and even T-shirts. 

Richard White, a lawyer representing one of the white boaters, told WSFA that he wants to make sure his client is treated fairly given the national attention. 

Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert told reporters last month that the brawl began when the owner of a pontoon boat refused to move from a docking spot designated for the city-owned Harriott II riverboat. The riverboat co-captain took a smaller vessel to shore to move the pontoon boat so the Harriott II could dock and let its 200 or so passengers disembark. 

Man wielding chair in Montgomery riverfront brawl pleads guilty

The man seen on the viral videos of the Montgomery boat dock brawl striking two people with a folding chair has pleaded guilty in municipal court.

Reggie Ray, 42, of Montgomery, entered the guilty plea to disorderly conduct Monday morning before Montgomery Municipal Court Judge Milton Westry. The charge is a misdemeanor. Ray was sentenced to 90 days in jail, which was suspended, and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and pay court costs totaling $357.

Neither Ray nor his attorney, Virgil Ford, offered any comment as they left the courtroom.

Ray became involved in the brawl after the initial fight was over. City officials have declined to comment on why Ray was not charged with misdemeanor assault. However, Richard White, attorney for Richard Roberts, a defendant charged with assault in the case, said the woman Ray struck with the plastic folding chair decided not to press charges. Videos posted on social media showed Ray also struck a man with the folding chair.

Ray is the last defendant to have a hearing in the melee.

Zachery Shipman, of Selma, and Allen Todd, of Orange Beach, each pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of harassment and must each serve 100 community hours, pay all court costs as well as a $100 fine and attend an anger management course. Shipman will serve his community service hours in Selma and Todd in Orange Beach. They were each originally charged with misdemeanor assault.

As part of the plea deal, Shipman dropped assault charges he had filed against Dameion Pickett, co-captain of the Harriott II.

Richard Roberts, of Selma, entered guilty pleas to two counts of misdemeanor assault against Pickett and Daniel Warren, a 16-year-old deckhand on the boat. Pickett and Warren accepted the guilty pleas.

Roberts was sentenced to 32 days of a four-month suspended jail sentence, to be served on weekends in a Perry County facility. He must complete 100 hours of community service and pay court costs totaling $714, records show.

Mary Todd, also of Selma, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment in the assault on Pickett. Pickett accepted the plea deal. She was ordered to attend anger management class and pay $357 in court costs.

Mary and Allen Todd are brother and sister.

On the evening of Aug. 5, the riverboat Harriott II was returning from a two-hour cruise and could not dock because privately owned pontoon boats were moored in the riverboat’s slip.

More: Montgomery riverfront brawl: Folding chair shows up in tourist photos, at voter drives

Pickett and Warren went ashore to ask the owners to move the boats, and a brawl erupted captured by dozens of cell phones. The footage showed Pickett, who is Black, being repeatedly struck by the group of white boaters as frustrated riverboat passengers looked on. It went viral on social media sparking media attention and outrage nationally.

Warren is white and the four co-defendants charged with assault are white. Ray is Black and the people he struck with the chair are white.

The FBI investigated the brawl and found no evidence of a hate crime in the incident.

Alex Gladden contributed to this report. Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at [email protected].

Riverboat vom 15. März | Video der Sendung vom 15.03.2024 22:00 Uhr (15.3.2024) mit Untertitel

Riverboat vom 15. märz.

Kim Fisher und Matze Knop begrüßen diesmal beim Riverboat: Lang Lang, Gina Alice Redlinger, Jessy Wellmer, Marijke Amado, Olaf Berger, Michael Kind, Janine Kunze und Christine Rauch.

Weil Sie »Riverboat vom 15. März« gesehen haben

Ndr talk show | 01.03.2024, vom müggelsee zum kriensee, kim fisher | moderatorin | wie bitte, sie sind schüchtern, kim fisher, neo ragazzi vom 21. september 2023, omas engel (s06/e01), anna und malin wohnen auf einem segelboot, mit dem hausboot auf dem rhein, held für einen tag (s04/e01), sendung mit kanzler olaf scholz und andrea petković, folge 18: morgenlicht (s02/e18), die seefrau, fischer fischt frau, fröhlich lesen vom 15. februar, liebe am fjord - das meer der frauen, talk mit sängerin christina stürmer und schauspieler jan josef liefers, mehr aus riverboat, riverboat vom 8. märz, riverboat – klassiker, riverboat vom 16. februar, riverboat - klassiker, riverboat vom 2. februar, riverboat vom 26. januar, jascha rust und tan caglar bei riverboat, gunther emmerlich: sein letzter auftritt im riverboat, riverboat vom 8. dezember, andrea kathrin loewig bei riverboat, riverboat vom 1. dezember, riverboat vom 24. november, riverboat vom 17. november, riverboat vom 10. november, riverboat vom 6. oktober, riverboat vom 22. september, riverboat vom 8. september.

Boil-water notice issued after body found in Highland Park Reservoir in Rochester

People who live in Rochester neighborhoods served by the Highland Park Reservoir are being told by the city and the Monroe County Department of Public Health to boil tap water before they use it after a body was discovered in the reservoir Tuesday morning .

The instructions are to bring tap water to a rolling boil, boil for one minute and then cool it before using — or to use bottled water.

Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing food until further notice.

The notice applies to these neighborhoods:

• Genesee River to Flint Street

• Flint Street to Genesee Street

• Genesee Street to Arnett Boulevard

• Arnett Boulevard to Westfield Street

• Westfield Street to Chili Avenue

• Chili Avenue to Lee Road

• Lee Road to Lexington Avenue

• Lexington Avenue to Genesee River

• Genesee River to Inner Loop

• Inner Loop to University Avenue

• University Avenue to North/South Goodman Street

• South Goodman Street to Linden Street

• Linden Street to Mount Hope Avenue

• Mount Hope Avenue to McLean Street

• McLean Street to Genesee River

Around 8 a.m. Tuesday, the city’s Bureau of Water discovered a dead body in the reservoir, and it was shut down.

In a statement, the city said the boil-water notice was issued out of "an abundance of caution."

It wrote: “The reservoir is inspected daily, and water quality is monitored continuously. All immediate water quality test results indicate that the water is safe. Harmful microbes in drinking water can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms and may pose a special health risk for infants, some elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. But these symptoms are not just caused by microbes in drinking water.”

More: Highland Park reservoir broke EPA rules. It was never covered for drinking water safety. Why?

People experiencing those symptoms are advised to see a doctor.

Over the next 16 hours, water samples will be collected from the water distribution system in the affected area to confirm that water quality has not been compromised, the statement said.

The reservoir has been isolated from that system and will not be put back in service until it has been drained and cleaned, according to the statement.

Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter  @MarciaGreenwood .

3 dead as Ohio tornadoes prompt mass casualty response in Logan County

Gov. mike dewine: 'the indian lake community will come back'.

At least three people are dead as a result of a series of severe storms that ravaged Ohio on Thursday night, spawning a series of 20 tornado warnings across the state and knocking out power to thousands.For the second time in as many weeks , storms and likely tornadoes tore through Ohio.

Authorities in Logan County are dealing with a mass casualty incident where at least three people died in tornado that struck a trailer park near Indian Lake , located about 70 miles northwest of Columbus. The National Weather Service confirmed as of 2 p.m. Friday that at least four tornadoes touched down across Ohio.

Logan County Sheriff Randy Dodds said the number of deaths could increase as rescue efforts continue.

"It's one hell of a mess up there," Dodds said. "It looks like a war zone." 

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine: 'There's an awful lot of damage'

Dodds said there were areas where first responders could not search overnight because of debris and downed power lines that made it unsafe. He said there is anticipation that there may be more people found dead during searches that will continue Friday morning.

Dodds said there are areas where a single home may have remained untouched while everything around it has been leveled.

"The power of this thing is just amazing. It hopped around but when you look at it, it's just amazing." 

Officials including Gov. DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, Senate President Matt Huffman and others held a news conference at around 3:30 Friday to give an update on the recovery.

DeWine drove through the Indian Lake area before the press conference to talk with home owners and those impacted by the storms.

"There's an awful lot of damage," he said.

DeWine said the Indian Lake community will rebound from the tragedy.

"The Indian Lake community will come back. That's the message I got from everybody," DeWine said at Indian Lake High School.

State Rep. Jon Cross, R-Findlay, who represents part of the area, said lawmakers have to work with the governor to get the community back open.

"This is a community that relies on tourism," Cross said. "We have devastated businesses that lost everything. We need to get these businesses back open.

Ohio's emergency operations center activated Thursday night during the severe weather and continues to coordinate damage assessment and clean-up efforts with local, state and federal agencies.

“Fran and I are deeply saddened by those impacted by the tornadoes and severe storms,” DeWine said in a statement issued shortly before noon. “We share the grief of the families who lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods.  Ohioans will come together as they always do with resilience and compassion as we support and rebuild our communities.”

Indian Lake residents assess Ohio tornado damage

Indian Lake resident Blaine Schmitt was working outside his home last night when his wife called him.

She warned him about the tornado and told him to get into the bathtub. He gathered his dog and friend, Greg McDougle, and hunkered down in the bathroom.

Over the next few minutes, the tornado swept through Schmitt's home, shredding the front wall and scattering debris in his yard.

"It sounded like a freight train literally went through the living room," Schmitt said.

Luckily, Schmitt and McDougle managed to get through the storm unscathed.

"I thank God that I'm alive and that my kids weren't here. It was very emotional when I first got here, and it's been emotional ever since then. But I pray every day and it paid off," Schmitt said.

McDougle used to live next door with his father. He sold the home two years ago, and it was being renovated when the storm hit. Now, all that remains is scattered debris, a single flattened wall, and the foundation.

"This is what's left. No one was living here, and thank God for that," McDougle said.

Logan County resident describes tornadoes: 'It's a noise you'll never forget'

As storms approached Logan County late Thursday, Loretta Kinney told her goddaughter Lucy there was nothing to be afraid of.

Kinney and her brother walked Lucy home and by the time they returned to their own house, Kinney said she realized just how wrong she was. The two headed down to the basement and waited out a storm and likely tornadoes that rolled across the Midwest and the Indian Lake region about 70 miles northwest of Columbus.

By the time they'd emerge, Kinney would come to find out that at least three people had died and homes and businesses around the county had been ripped apart.

"Just the noise. When they say you hear a train, it's a noise you'll never forget," Kinney said. "Then to come up and see it, it is so surreal. Even though I'm standing here and looking at everything it doesn't seem real."

Shelter opens for Indian Lake storm victims

The Logan County Emergency Management Agency said it's opened a shelter for victims of Thursday night's storm at the Church of God located at 1000 E Brown Ave.

The United Way of Logan County also established a relief fund where monetary donations can be made to assist residents who have been impacted by the storms.

Donations can be made online to the Indian Lake Tornado Relief Fund at  www.uwlogan.org  and 100% of donations will go to help community members recover in both the short and long-term from the storms.

Possible tornado strikes Lakeview, Indian Lake: 'People's homes are destroyed'

Columbus Dispatch Photographer Doral Chenoweth arrived in the area before midnight and reported finding extensive damage, including a destroyed trailer park with tractor trailers and RVs overturned and large trees uprooted. In Lakeview, the library and a government building were damaged.

"Every building in Lakeview and every building here has some form of damage," he said, from a spot near Lakeview. "People's homes are destroyed."

The Logan EMA confirmed for The Dispatch that a trailer park in the Indian Lake area just north of Lakeview was struck by a tornado or at least very high winds that have caused extensive damage. The community also reported having a shortage of ambulances.

An NWS spokesman said he couldn't confirm that a tornado struck the community but said there was "reports of a lot of damage there." The NWS will send investigators out Friday to confirm the tornadoes as it did last month when nine were confirmed across Ohio .

Thursday's Ohio storms were part of a larger system that pushed through the Midwest beginning in the afternoon and into the evening.

The Indiana State Police said there are “many significant injuries” after a tornado tore through the community of Winchester, AP reported.

“There have been many, many significant injuries, but I don’t know the number. I don’t know where they are. I don’t know what those injuries are,” Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter told reporters just before midnight Thursday. “There’s a lot that we don’t know yet.”

The National Weather Service in Wilmington and Cleveland issued 20 tornado warnings based on a review of social media posts. That does not include multiple thunderstorms and other alerts.

Indian Lake volunteers continue search for people impacted by storms

Emergency personnel conducted "grid searches" Friday morning in the impacted areas where the storm struck, the sheriff said.

Grid searches are methodical searches using a grid pattern to ensure that all areas can be checked without duplicating efforts and minimizing the risk of missing an area.

The sheriff said there are areas that first responders are able to access during the daylight that were not accessible Thursday night because of downed power lines and concerns about gas leaks. Those areas are now being searched. Crews are also researching areas that were searched Thursday night to ensure that no one who needed medical assistance was missed.

While there has been a "plethora" of volunteers who have arrived on the scene, Dodds said volunteers are more likely to be necessary as the searches conclude and the clean-up effort begins. 

The Central Ohio Strike Team mobilized Friday morning to go to the Indian Lake area to help with the ongoing emergency response. The strike team, one of five regional teams across the state that are specially trained to respond when there are large-scale disasters, includes firefighters from every agency in Franklin County.

The members of the strike team receive special training on how to do search and rescue operations in the event of structure collapses, as well as how to do rescue operations in confined spaces and machinery extractions. 

AEP transmission towers toppled in Delaware County

AEP Ohio confirmed that the storms toppled six transmission towers near Olentangy Berlin High School. As of 9:15 a.m. Friday, the number of customers without power had risen to more than 13,000. 

Photos posted by the utility company on social media show the tower on its side. The tower fell into other power lines in the area. 

AEP issued a statement Friday afternoon saying more than 30 power lines came down in the storm, as well as six transmission towers in Delaware County.

The utility company said the goal is to have power restored to as many customers as possible on Friday, however, some customers who get their power from the high-voltage transmission towers could face a potential multi-day outage. AEP said as more information is gathered throughout Friday afternoon, those affected customers will receive an automated phone call. 

Specks and tatters of insulation lined sidewalks and the sides of houses at the Pine of Berlin Station, a subdivision near Berlin Middle School. Debris from inside houses — books, crayons, a broken pair of child’s glasses — were scattered in the grass.

“Someone else’s roof is in my kitchen,” said Katie Sprinkle, who weathered the storm with her husband and two kids, ages 9 and 11. The storm terrified her 9-year-old daughter.

“Pray loud, mom,” she said her daughter told her.

The kids wore bike helmets to protect themselves from falling debris, and her husband placed an overturned canoe over them. The family could hear windows breaking in the wind. It sounded like an explosion, Sprinkle said.

Delaware County road closures due to Thursday's storms

Several major traffic routes in Delaware County remained closed as of 7 a.m. Friday because of debris in the roadway. Ohio 315, closed between Hyatts Road and U.S. 23, is expected to remain closed at least through morning rush hour.

The Delaware County Sheriff's office is asking that people avoid the area where the aftermath of the storms are and avoid sightseeing. There are continued concerns about live wires and large trees in the roads.

In a post on Facebook Friday morning, the Delaware County Sheriff's office said crews have been working throughout the night to try and clear roadways but there are areas where debris continues to block roads. 

The sheriff's office asked for additional travel time and patience from drivers, as well as willingness to take alternate routes. 

The sheriff's office said that as of 5 a.m. Friday, a number of roads remained impassable. Those roads included: 

• Portions of Berlin Station Road near Glenn Parkway, between Kingsbury and Braumiller, between Piatt and Dale Ford
• Portions of Bunty Station east of Liberty Road
• Africa Road north of Cheshire
• Portions of Rome Corners
• Portions of Walnut Road and Piatt Road
• Portions of Ohio 3

Tornado warnings from Thursday night's deadly tornadoes

Storms hit indiana, kentucky and northern, central and southern ohio.

At least three confirmed tornadoes touched down Thursday afternoon in southern Indiana and north-central Kentucky Thursday, leaving dozens of structures damaged or destroyed,  The Louisville Courier-Journal reported .

Tornadoes were confirmed near Hanover and Marion in Indiana and near Milton in Kentucky. As for Ohio, officials have said it's too early to say just how widespread the storms were, or whether any confirmed tornadoes touched down.

Meteorologist Steve Harbenach of the National Weather Service in Wilmington said there have been several radar confirmations of possible tornadoes across Ohio, but added "we really have no idea right now how many tornadoes we had."

"There have been numerous areas where we've had reports of damage," he added. "It's going to take a while for us to sort through that. it's going to take multiple days for us to sort through this to see what happened."

An X user who was driving from Lima and passing through Logan took pictures of the extensive damage. In the post on X, he said authorities told him that he had missed a tornado "by about 2 minutes." He could not confirm if there were any casualties but said that a large section of U.S. Route 33 northwest of Marysville would remain closed as authorities assessed the damage.

Tornado watches remained in effect until midnight in dozens of Ohio counties, including Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Hocking, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, Union, Ross, Butler, Clinton, Hamilton, Warren, Champaign, Clark, Drake, Greene, Logan, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Shelby.

Severe thunderstorm warnings remained in effect for Franklin and Madison counties until 11 p.m. Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

More From Forbes

Why you should add a land extension to your alaska cruise.

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The breathtaking scenery is reason enough to visit Alaska.

Alaska cruises are so popular because they’re an easy way to surround yourself with some of the country’s most beautiful scenery while taking advantage of all the perks of a luxury ship – like top notch accommodations, fun activities and great food.

To give you an even more immersive Alaska experience that goes beyond shore excursions, many cruise lines offer land and sea packages so you get to enjoy the best of both worlds. Your week-long cruise is followed by (or preceded by) a five-day land tour that takes you on a deep dive into Denali National Park and areas you otherwise wouldn’t get to explore on the ship.

Princess , a leader in this area, actually owns and operates five unique Wilderness Lodges which you get to call home each night as you’re whisked around the state, taking in wildlife sightings and mountain views along the way.

The gorgeous, ever-changing landscape of Denail National Park.

If you don’t have time to add a land portion to your cruise, don’t worry. Princess is an expert in Alaska and, in addition to an extensive selection of shore excursions, they offer exclusive onboard activities to help immerse you in the culture, including the always popular Puppies in the Piazza, which features a visit from the cutest future four-legged Iditarod champions, and a fascinating presentation by Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the prestigious sled dog race.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024.

I did a Princess Alaska Cruisetour two summers ago and am seriously considering planning another one. I’ve done Alaska cruises before but this one was extra special – both onboard, thanks to the amazing Princess crew who literally treated everyone like royalty, and on land, where I got to experience parts of The Last Frontier I’d never had access to on a ship.

You probably don’t need more reasons to book an Alaska cruise but, if you want to know what to expect on the land portion, here are just a few of the reasons you should start thinking about a Princess Alaska Cruisetour :

The intrepid explorer for whom Hotel Captain Cook is named.

You’ll start your extension in Alaska’s largest city, with an overnight at the legendary Hotel Captain Cook , a member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Collection. The historic hotel features an extensive art collection, four restaurants and a dozen shops. Plus, its Athletic Club is a great place to get in a swim, workout or massage after a long flight. Centrally located downtown, it makes an ideal homebase from which to explore the city like the hotel’s namesake.

Princess Wilderness Lodges

A magical view of Mt. McKinley from Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge.

Because Princess owns their own properties throughout Alaska, Cruisetour guests are treated like family as they’re welcomed to different lodges along their journey. Every lodge has its own distinct personality but all offer cozy rooms and delicious meals along with stunning scenery. They also offer a variety of activities and places to just sit by the fire so you can be as busy or as relaxed as you choose. At Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, you can take a glass class from a local artist and at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, you can enjoy the views from the floor to ceiling windows in the communal Great Room or get outside and take a hike up to the Treehouse to try to get a glimpse of the peak in person.

Talkeetna was the inspiration for the hit TV show, "Northern Exposure."

The town that inspired the hit TV show, Northern Exposure , Talkeetna is quirky and charming and, thanks to its strong artist community, a great place to shop for local art. We took a fun ride with the sled dogs of Sun Dog Kennel , led by Iditarod musher Jerry Sousa, and loved meeting the newest additions to their furry family! Unfortunately, we didn’t get to meet the mayor of Talkeetna — who, um, is a cat — but that’s just another reason to come back and spend more time in this unique town.

Direct-To-The-Wilderness Railway

The views are everywhere on Princess' glass domed railway.

Princess uses its own luxury train to transport guests from Talkeetna to Denali and it’s proof that the journey is as important as the destination. The glass domed railway cars provide all-around views – and you won’t know where to look first. (It’s similar to the Rocky Mountaineer experience, which is also a must-do.) You’ll enjoy a made-to-order lunch in the dining car and snacks and drinks are always available. The ride is lovely and you won’t want to close your eyes to rest because there’s always so much to see.

Denali National Park

The highlight of our visit to Denali National Park.

It’s impossible to describe a visit to Denali because it is constantly changing but just know that it is magnificent in every iteration. The scenery is just breathtaking and we got to see lots of wildlife but the hands-down highlight was when a bear came right up to our bus. Everyone went silent and just watched as it sauntered by without a care in the world. This is something every traveler should experience.

Discovery Riverboat Cruise

Don't miss a Discovery cruise on the Chena and Tanana rivers..

Take a riverboat ride on an authentic sternwheeler – which is a totally different experience than your Princess cruise ship! This slow-moving steamboat will show you a fascinating side of Fairbanks, making stops for you to get up close and personal with sled dogs and to tour a replica of an Athabascan Indian Village. You’ll also get to watch a bush pilot demonstrate their skills while you enjoy a snack.

Running Reindeer Ranch

Running Reindeer Ranch in Fairbanks gives you a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to get up close and ... [+] personal with these magnificent creatures.

Visiting this family-run reindeer ranch in Fairbanks is like walking into a fairy tale and you won’t stop smiling the whole time you’re there. Not only do you get to take a leisurely stroll through the beautiful boreal forest with actual reindeer but you get to know them individually and can even take photos with them. You’ll learn so much about these magnificent creatures and, depending on the time of year, you may also be able to sign up for reindeer yoga or reindeer music. This is an unforgettable experience and the animals are just pure joy.

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Man dies in boating incident on Fraser River: RCMP

By Emma Crawford

Posted March 17, 2024 9:27 pm.

Last Updated March 17, 2024 11:08 pm.

A 65-year-old man has died after a boating incident on the Fraser River Saturday, the Langley RCMP says.

Police say they were called out around 5 p.m. after a report of a boat operator in distress in the Derby Reach area.

When emergency crews arrived, they administered medical care but the man succombed to his injuries.

“Initial investigation indicates that the boat was involved in a collision with a metal tide pole, and it is believed that the boat operator was lone occupant at the time of the incident,” said. Corp. Zynal Sharoom of the Langley RCMP.

Police are working with the West Coast Marine Services to investigate the incident.

Anyone with any information or who may have witnessed the collision is being asked to call the Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200 and quote file 2024-8150.

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The West Vancouver Memorial Library has a unique bee lending program, where participants get to take care of mason bees for a year.

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Bristol police officers honored by Chief Brian Gould for bravery in October incident

BRISTOL, CT (WFSB) - These officers sprang into action the night a woman walked into the lobby, pulled out a gun, and started firing.

It was situation that could have had a deadly outcome.

Going down the line, Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould, giving awards to the officers who have shown exceptional policing these past several months.

One particularly brave group of officers was honored Tuesday night.

On October 5th, bulletproof glass separated Suzanne Laprise and Bristol police officers.

Police say she walked into the lobby with a gun.

She was erratic, banging and shooting at multiple windows.

Luckily, the bullets didn’t make it through.

But it wasn’t just the glass that saved them, thanks to the heroic Bristol officers on duty that night.

The potentially deadly situation was de-escalated safely.

Laprise was tased and arrested, charged with attempted murder.

Police believe it was a suicide by cop attempt.

“Totally unexpected and very proud of the response of these officers,” says Chief Gould.

He says the best-case scenario played out: nobody got hurt.

“To be able to go and just think so calmly and so cool and collective, to watch that response that was coordinated and so professionally done,” continued Gould.

Tuesday’s ceremony is the last time Chief Gould will be formally recognizing his officers as Bristol Police Chief ahead of his retirement in just a couple weeks.

His last day is April 6th.

Copyright 2024 WFSB. All rights reserved.

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‘Determined to hurt me:’ Scary road rage incident begins on Crooked River Ranch, leads to Terrebonne man’s arrest

(Update: adding video, comments by victim, witness; Bend PD; DA to consider charges after OSP files report)

CROOKED RIVER RANCH, Ore (KTVZ) -- A mother and her teen daughter were traveling from Crooked River Ranch to Bend early last week when they say they became victims of a frightening road rage incident that lasted for several miles and led to a Terrebonne man's arrest on DUII and other charges by Oregon State Police.

OSP said they arrested the drive for DUII, reckless driving and reckless endangering. According to their report, "The listed suspect was transported to the OSP Bend patrol office. where he refused to take a breath test. A search warrant was applied for blood evidence and granted. The listed suspect was later lodged in Deschutes County jail without further incident." They said he met jail release criteria.

"With my 15 year old daughter, I was I was petrified." Joanna Gange told NewsChannel 21 Thursday. "Not for myself, but for her. And when he stopped and got out of his vehicle, I feared for my life. I didn't know if he was armed. I didn't know if he was bringing a gun or a knife or anything. I just knew I needed to get out of there!”

Gange was on the way to Bend with her daughter the evening of Monday, March 4 when she found herself in a nightmare driving situation. She says after passing a vehicle on NW Lower Bridge Road, she was harassed by the driver, and ultimately he ran her off the road more than once, pushing her into oncoming traffic. 

Gange said it began after she legally passed the truck that "was all over the road. … He sped up and got on my tail, flashing his high-beams all the way off the ranch," then passed her and slowed to 25-35 mph, more than once, back and forth.

"When I attempted to pass him, he ran me off the road several times," she said, and at one point got out and ran toward her car. The incident continued on Highway 97 through Terrebonne, with him passing her and slowing yet again, as she was transfered from Jefferson to Deschutes County dispatchers and begged them to send help as soon as possible.

Troopers said they received the report around 5:30 p.m. that day of a reckless driver on Lower Bridge Road, with two witnesses saying the driver, later identified as a 60-year-old Terrebonne man, nearly causing a head-on collision.

Seth Sutherland, a witness to the road rage incident told us, “He proceeded to merge back on to the road, pushing them into oncoming traffic, head-on with myself. They almost went completely off the road, into the shoulder of the road, head-on with a power pole. Had I not have stepped on my brakes as fast as I did. they probably would have had either a head-on with the pole or myself.”

Sutherland said he saw Gange’s jeep barrel toward his pickup only 20-30 yards away and slammed on his brakes. The sudden stop damaged his equipment. 

OSP said the man was contacted at his home and "was found passed out in his driver's seat." He "was impaired to a perceptible degree," they said, and they arrested him on charges of DUII, reckless driving and four counts of reckless endangerment.

Gange said, “Sergeant Hansen told me, he's like -- this was a guy who was going to kill somebody. Maybe not intentionally, but he was so drunk that he was -- I don't know if he was completely unaware. I don't know. I just know that he was hell-bent on making me pay” for her initial pass of his pickup.

According to road rage statistics from the Journal of Consumer Research, the most prevalent road rage involves speeding, tailing, honking, and running a red light. The most common reason for road rage has to do with heavy traffic, but also can be exacerbated by other factors such as feeling stressed or tired. Oregon does not have a specific law against road rage, but there are numerous possible charges, depending on what transpires. 

Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said, “It's not illegal to yell at somebody. Those are free speech issues. But when you start to get into really reckless driving, that's more than just a traffic violation. It's more than just cutting someone off for tailgating. That's when it could constitute reckless driving.”

Bend PD advises drivers not to engage with those displaying signs of road rage. Don't make eye contact and do not yell back. Instead, call law enforcement and report the behavior. 

"Often what we see is that when the driver who is road raging discovers that you are pulling into the police station lobby parking lot, they're going to disengage and drive away, and that will defuse the situation," Miller said.

There is a difference between aggressive driving and road rage. Road rage is a criminal offense which includes intentional violent behavior toward other drivers. Aggressive driving is a traffic violation posing risk to other drivers.

Gange recalled her emotional state during the frightening incident: “I felt really trapped. I felt like this man is determined to hurt me.” 

Online court records show no formal charges have yet been filed against the suspect. NewsChannel 21 policy is not to name arrested persons until and unless formal charges are filed.

Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels, said criminal charges will be considered when the DA’s office receives the incident reports from OSP.

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Matthew Draxton

Matthew Draxton is a multimedia journalist for NewsChannel 21. Learn more about Matthew here .

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