Newton surrendered to authorities Wednesday after retired Chief Dennis Reno swore out a warrant on Newton for third-degree assault. The problem is, the four individuals on the council, they know their time is up, Newton said. He said too many longtime residents of the city long for a version back in the 60s and 70s, when it was a different place. That is all that was said. Newton late Thursday night posted a series of videos on Facebook, including the one of the alleged assault and others that showed Reno carrying out various activities using his injured arm. He never gave me a chance, he told AL.com of the mayor, adding that he had told Newton, I dont hire off race, I hire off qualifications.. Freddie Rubio, the city attorney of Tarrant, declined to comment on any formal complaints of harassment against Mayor Newton, and did not respond to a subsequent request for comment about whether procedures had been followed in firing employees. The incident was caught on camera. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. ", Newton said he believes its a small number of former employees and former residents stirring up the controversy. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020 when the two got into a verbal dispute. In an interview with The Daily Beast, Bryant pushed back against any problems with race that the city and police department may have faced in the past. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). But when he stood up in that desk and said that to me, I knew good and well right then I wasnt going to throw a 42-year career away off somebody like him. I never had a single complaint against me the entire time I was at Tarrant, about being a racist, Reno continued. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Were not in the 50s anymore. Taylor, who does not buy the assault charge, said her boyfriend is Black, and that for many in the Black community, it has been an open secret that the Tarrant Police Department had no Black police officers and would routinely pull over Black drivers and find excuses to search their cars. North Texas Interoperable Radio Network (NTIRN) Project 25 Phase II. He returned to Birmingham to practice law, specializing in real estate. TARRANT, Ala. (WIAT) Wayman Newton, the mayor of Tarrant, was charged with misdemeanor assault Wednesday. Newton is considered innocent until proven guilty and he has called the charge bogus. The Tribune is awaiting a call back from his attorney. Newton, elected in 2020 as the citys first Black mayor, was arrested June 16, 2021, on the third-degree assault lodged by former police Chief Dennis Reno. Copyright All rights reserved. "All of us at SPD are extremely proud of Chief Perry Tarrant. Phone: (817) 685-1500 The Euless Police Department provides law enforcement service for the community. Fort Worth Assistant Police Chief Robert Alldredge told city council members there were . But he told The Daily Beast that the police department employs 18 officers. George also shared department data with The Daily Beast that showed how, in 2019, Black drivers represented about 58 percent of those stopped by police, and about 55 percent of stopped drivers in 2020. Proudly Managed & Hosted by Adam Black Media WI - Feb 07, 2023. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020, when the two got into a verbal dispute. The fire department is also short two firefighters and neither department has a chief at this time. Ever since Newton, 40, took office after winning his election in Tarrant, Alabamapopulation 7,000by nearly 40 percentage points last year, a small minority of mostly white residents and city leaders have had it out for him, he told The Daily Beast. He called the charges a political stunt to smear his name. along with contact information, are available now on the wvt13m app. We strive to maintain our citizens' trust and confidence in their Police Department by maintaining a high degree of integrity and professionalism among all Police employees. Newton called the assault chargein connection with an argument that happened seven months agoa stunt, while Reno has claimed Newton is only releasing part of the footage. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. I wasnt even in the hiring process. The Tarrant mayor claimed that Dennis Reno, the former Tarrant Police Chief, wouldnt hire black police officers and that disagreement led to the November altercation. BREAKING: Tarrant Mayor arrested on assault charge, Finalists for Trussville BOE seat announced, Pinson council presents $60,000 check to schools, Springville softball blow out Pelham, continue dominant season, Obituary: Myra Carroll (August 22, 1937 February 23, 2023), Obituary: Sherry Webster Zorn (August 21, 1948 February 22, 2023), Obituary: Joy Silvey (August 2, 1932 February 26, 2023), Obituary: Grace Mixon (March 6, 1935 February 25, 2023), TCS hires new Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Former local TV anchors appear in PSA for COVID vaccinations, Trussville Police respond to 2 fights at Hewitt-Trussville High School today. Police Dept. Although the numbers dont tell a damning tale, Newton said, Tarrant historically has had a problem.. All rights reserved (About Us). Freddie Rubio, the city attorney of Tarrant, declined to comment on any formal complaints of harassment against Mayor Newton, and did not respond to a subsequent request for comment about whether procedures had been followed in firing employees. TARRANT, Ala. (WBRC) - Tarrant's Police Chief is reacting to Councilman Tommy Bryant's arrest after he said he witnessed Bryant punching Mayor Wayman Newton. This type of conduct will not be tolerated, and employees that choose to engage in such behavior will be dealt with swiftly and severely.. Newton was booked into the Jefferson County Jail in Bessemer at 4:09 p.m. Wednesday with bond set at $1,000. My election kind of represented a transition from the old guard to the new, Newton told The Daily Beast. At that time, my lieutenant for the police department was in ICU with COVID and I told him I would need a little bit more time to get that information because all of the files was on the lieutenants computer and I said, I dont have access to his computer. He jumps up from his desk and I will tell you exactly what he said. Reno did not respond to repeated requests for comment for this story. But also partly due to a concerted effort between Dennis Reno, and city council members, and former city employees trying to get them to actually leave the city to hurt the city and to ultimately hurt my administration, Newton said. For example, he said, the firing of Rickels is something that he didnt need approval for. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton was arrested June 16, 2021 on a misdemeanor assault charge against the city's former police chief. Deputy Chief David Carabajal Newton was arrested on Wednesday on a charge of third-degree assault. The mayor is accused of slamming a door on Reno, causing an injury to Renos shoulder that may require surgery. Racial Profiling Policy. He is a dictatorial person, Bryant, 76, told The Daily Beast of Newton. Download original document: Document text This text is machine-read, and may contain errors. I wasnt shocked because I knew I didnt do any of the stuff they accused me of doing, Newton said Wednesday. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Staff Login X He supports Newton, does not believe the assault claim, and said he believes the real issue has to do with the changing demographics of the city over the past 30 years, which is now largely minority but was once predominantly white. Bryant, who is white, also said his opposition to Newton has nothing to do with his race but rather stemmed from Newton trampling on the established ways of doing things and instilling a culture of fear among current and city employees because of his temper. He accused Newton of failing to fill important vacant positions in the city, like the city clerk and the chief of police. Newton held a press conference at Tarrant City Hall on Thursday to discuss the case. SOLD FEB 16, 2023. But he said people like Bryant and Reno are, in effect, stuck in the past: Theyre longing for a time that was.. Regular Council Meetings are held Every 1st and 3rd Monday's of each month @ 7PM. Newton said he expects the charge against him to be dropped after video of the incident is handed over to the District Attorneys Office. (Jefferson County Jail), At a press conference held Thursday, Newton said Reno was was unwilling to stop the discriminatory practice of not hiring African American officers, which under my administration is unacceptable., There was a verbal disagreement about this between myself and Mr. Reno in my office on November 3, 2020 in which Mr. Reno is alleging that I slammed his arm in a door,' Newton said. Chief Perry Tarrant has 34 years of law enforcement experience and is a retired captain with the Tucson Police Department and a past assistant chief of the Seattle Police Department. Newton said there is video of the alleged assault and he has ordered the city attorney to release the video footage to the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office, as well as video of Reno moving out of his office the following day. Newton, who has called a 10 a.m. press conference at Tarrant City Hall, on Thursday released this statement: The former Police Chief of Tarrant, Dennis Reno, was unwilling to stop the discriminatory practice of not hiring African American officers, which under my administration is unacceptable., There was a verbal disagreement about this between myself and Mr. Reno in my office on November 3, 2020 in which Mr. Reno is alleging that I slammed his arm in a door. The police that I referred to that Mr. Reno had in place was simple and to quote him exactly, I dont hire Black officers because Black officers dont like to police their own.. Jason Rickles was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second-degree criminal damage to property and possession of a deadly weapon after an incident in Roswell, Ga. on March 12. Chief Rickels had a felony charge and that also involved a gun,' he said. Brian Steel, Rickels attorney, told AL.com the charges were baseless. I only worked for him for two hours. Ever since Newton, 40, took office after winning his election in Tarrant, Alabamapopulation 7,000by nearly 40 percentage points last year, a small minority of mostly white residents and city leaders have had it out for him, he told The Daily Beast. 2593 Commerce Circle. Its like now all hes doing is trying to oppose anything Mayor Newton is doing. There was nothing about racism, nothing about me not hiring any blacks or anything. Chief Wendell Major said this all stems from an argument between Councilman Bryant and Mayor Newton. Newman was arrested again on Aug. 18, 2021, on the harassment charged obtained by Bryant. 205-849-2811. In an interview with The Daily Beast, Bryant pushed back against any problems with race that the city and police department may have faced in the past. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. I never even got involved in the interviews, said Reno. You can watch Newtons full press conference and reaction from his supporters below. Tarrant resident Waynette Bonham said things seemed to be changing for the better under Newton. Tarrant city councilman Tommy Bryant previously came under fire for calling the same mayor he is accused of attacking a "house n----r" during a council meeting. George also shared department data with The Daily Beast that showed how, in 2019, Black drivers represented about 58 percent of those stopped by police, and about 55 percent of stopped drivers in 2020. This is not true, and I fully expect to be exonerated.. View All Newton said Reno told him that he didnt hire Black officers because Black officers dont like to police their own.. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Major is a graduate of Fairfield High School and served as a U.S. Marine. Reno swore out a warrant on Newton for third-degree assault, and the mayor surrendered to authorities on Wednesday and was released on bond. Joel Kimbrough, who is white, has lived in Tarrant his whole life and owns a printing business there. Give me a break! Phone: 817-249-1610. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Newton has not yet named replacements for Reno or Rickels. Newman was arrested again on Aug. 18, 2021, on the harassment charged, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. TARRANT, Ala. (WIAT) Wayman Newton, the mayor of Tarrant, was charged with misdemeanor assault Wednesday.