And thats what Ive been doing, he said. The fire department is also short two firefighters and neither department has a chief at this time. The conversation evolved into a shouting match, Newton said. WI - Feb 07, 2023. The Black 41-year-old claimed the mayor has also made other positive changes in the city, such as starting a farmers market, providing greater access to the community center, and feeding the poorest city residents. 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, said Newton. Mayor Wayman Newton on Thursday confirmed Jefferson County Sheriff's Capt. Tarrant City Council member Tommy Bryant was arrested Monday after he reportedly attacked Mayor Wayman Newton, according to the mayor. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Regular Council Meetings are held Every 1st and 3rd Monday's of each month @ 7PM. Chief Rickels had a felony charge and that also involved a gun,' he said. Its people like him that every time theyre wrong they start playing the race card, Reno added. I was trying to piss him off to see if hed come after me, Bryant said. The Black 41-year-old claimed the mayor has also made other positive changes in the city, such as starting a farmers market, providing greater access to the community center, and feeding the poorest city residents. along with contact information, are available now on the wvt13m app. He can look and see what it could be without the historical hindsight of what it was, he said. Newton, elected in 2020 as the city's first Black mayor,. So, the guy didnt know what he was talking about.. At a press conference held about his arrest, 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. Other videos, apparently from the next day, show him using the left arm he allegedly injured to carry files and climb out of his pickup truck. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. In response to the alleged instance of misconduct that Bryant described, in which he said Newton challenged him to a fight, Newton said, Im a 40-year-old Black man with an Ivy League degree and I graduated from a top-10 law school. Newton, elected in 2020 as the citys first Black mayor, is charged with third-degree assault of former Chief Dennis Reno. Asked how him being arrested for assault is different than the arrest of the former fire chief, Newton said, This is a misdemeanor. Coming on the heels of a year of racial justice protests, literal dismantling of Confederate monuments, and calls for police reform, the bizarre, small-town, Deep South saga either reflects the rise of a ruthless politician one rival likened to Adolf Hitler, or the last gasp of a white power structure that wont let go. The Ugly War Between a White Police Chief and a Black Mayor in the Deep South A TOWN DIVIDED Wayman Newton Tarrant, Alabama, has been gripped by a saga that some say reflects the rise of a. At this point Im happy. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I never even got involved in the interviews, said Reno. 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. The Seattle Police Department is honored to announce that Assistant Chief Perry Tarrant was sworn in as the next president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). Other videos, apparently from the next day, show him using the left arm he allegedly injured to carry files and climb out of his pickup truck. What happened is that he wanted me to bring him, on a Tuesday, he wanted by Friday, every personnel file from the police department. According to jail records, Newton turned himself into the Jefferson County Jail at 4:09 p.m. Newton is considered innocent until proven guilty and he has called the charge bogus. The Tribune is awaiting a call back from his attorney. Perry Tarrant has 34 years of law enforcement experience with the Tucson Police Department. He never gave me a chance.', Reno said he told Newton during the only conversation they had about the racial makeup of the police force was, I dont hire off race, I hire off qualifications.. A day after his arrest, Newman released video footage of the alleged assault. Were not in the 50s anymore. All contents copyright 2021 Associated Press. Since becoming mayor, Newton has vowed to clean up the city but he said he has faced pushback from the council, former community members as well as former city employees. Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Theyve blocked him from making what he and some locals describe as needed changes to the police department in a city mostly comprised of Black and Latino residents, he said. Newton was arrested on Wednesday on a charge of third-degree assault. Robin Davis, spokeswoman for. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton has released video of an incident that led to the former police chief filing a misdemeanor assault charge against the mayor. Tarrant Mayor-elect Wayman Newton was sworn in on Nov. 2, 2020 as the city's first Black mayor. Perry Tarrant Assistant Chief, Seattle Police Department Speaker, Designing Cities conference Assistant Chief Perry Tarrant commands the Special Operations Bureau of the Seattle Police Department. Newton was booked into the Jefferson County Jail in Bessemer at 4:09 p.m. Wednesday with bond set at $1,000. Brian Steel, Rickels attorney, told AL.com the charges were baseless. Newton was elected Aug. 25. I actually question the legitimacy of those numbers like I question the legitimacy of the hiring practices of the previous police chief, he added. In response to the alleged instance of misconduct that Bryant described, in which he said Newton challenged him to a fight, Newton said, Im a 40-year-old Black man with an Ivy League degree and I graduated from a top-10 law school. All rights reserved (About Us). Bryant wondered why Newton wasnt putting himself on leave given the fact that he fired Rickels for his charge. Im in charge of employees, he told The Daily Beast. According to AL.com, Rickels, who is white, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a gun after he allegedly pulled a gun on a Black realtor and photographer at a home he owned in Roswell, Georgia. If you actually go and talk to most people that actually live here in the city, they actually like the things that Im doing.. Newton, an attorney and Tarrants first Black mayor, is accused of slamming a door on Reno, causing an injury to Renos shoulder that may require surgery. Tarrant resident Waynette Bonham said things seemed to be changing for the better under Newton. Since Reno left the force, he said around 12 officers have left the department. 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). I do not represent the Mayor, Councilor Bryant or any other employee in its individual capacity, he said. Do you really think that I would say something like that at a public meeting?. Meanwhile, white drivers made up about 30 percent of stops in 2019, and 27 percent of stops in 2020, numbers that are a bit lower than their 34 percent share of the population. The white 25-year-old said she supports Newton because he has made an attempt to bring needed youth activities to the city, and has helped the police department make great strides. The mayor in April fired Tarrant Fire Chief Jason Rickels, a month after Rickels was arrested in Georgia on assault and other charges after he allegedly pulled a gun on an Atlanta realtor and. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He was charged with third-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor. 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. He called himself the CEO of the city, and said Bryant and others have unfortunately been put off by the new structure hes installed. But he told The Daily Beast that the police department employs 18 officers. Oh yes, there's trouble, right here in Tarrant City, with a capital "T" that rhymes with "C" that stands for (racist) Conspiracy. In an interview, the mayor denied ever slamming the door on Renos arm. Tarrant Police Department 2593 Commerce Cir Tarrant, AL 35217 205-849-2811 The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is the police department that serves the area, where Mike Hale is the sheriff. 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. Newton, a lawyer who was elected to office last year, was booked in the Jefferson County Jail for 20 minutes Wednesday. The charge comes after former Police Chief Dennis Reno claimed that Newton slammed a door on. Tarrant County /QuickLinks.aspx. Because thats the only thing he can come up with.. Westlake. FL - Feb 09, 2023. Is there a reason you got rid of every white department head in the city? Reno did not respond to repeated requests for comment for this story. He said four of those officers are Black, and that all were hired after Reno resigned from his position as chief of police on Jan. 1. Ft Worth Tarrant County Texas Arrests, Warrants & Most Wanted. When Wayman Newton found out last week about the warrant for his arrest in the town that elected him its first Black mayor, he wasnt surprised. 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. When he was released, the young mayor posted security-camera videos on Facebook that appear to show Reno leaving the mayors office and calmly closing the door on his way out. And as I stated before, there is a video of this incident, which will be released to the authorities. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Reno swore out a warrant on Newton for third-degree assault, and the mayor surrendered to authorities on Wednesday and was released on bond. Lt. Phillip George of the Tarrant Police Department declined to comment about any alleged policy of not hiring Black officers, as well as the alleged targeting of Black drivers. 2593 Commerce Circle. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Im a man. Newton was also acquitted on a harassment charge obtained by city council member . Ill take a voice stress analysist and a polygraph with the person of his (Newtons) choosing. He has support,' she said. Tarrant, Alabama, has been gripped by a saga that some say reflects the rise of a ruthless politician and others see as the last gasp of a white power structure that wont let go. Kimbrough, 65, said the city has a lot of potential and a significant budget given its size. I hope it dont offend you. But its the people that hold office in Tarrant thats keeping him from moving forward., She called out the longest-serving councilman, Tommy Bryant, in particular. Newton said the ongoing discord hasnt been easy and at times hes wanted to lash out. Mayor Wayman Newton on Thursday confirmed Jefferson County Sheriffs Capt. All rights reserved (About Us). Im more than qualified to be the mayor of Tarrant. (Newton said the reason the city doesnt have a clerk or police chief is because Bryant and other holdover council members have opposed his choices and instead want to install someone sympathetic to them.). 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. Posted on Monday, November 23, 2020. For further clarity of these information, therefore, visit the website or call 817-276-4700 for more. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Newton said he helped solidify an internal affairs office to keep track of any alleged police misconduct. The full press conference can be watched in the video player above. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. TCOLE Licensing. PA - Feb 06, 2023. Phone: 817-249-1610. But according to AL.com, he told police last week that Newton slammed a door on his arm and injured him seriously enough that he now needs physical therapy. He said he hopes to succeed in that endeavor. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Laura Horton, 73, who served on the city council for 20 years before losing her re-election bid in 2020, echoed Bryants assessment of Newton.