We are committed to making our community a safe place to live, work, and visit. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. All rights reserved (About Us). A day after his arrest, Newman released video footage of the alleged assault. 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. Pembroke Pines Police Department. Got a tip? Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton has been found not guilty on charges of misdemeanor assault on the former police chief. TARRANT, Ala. (AP) A Black Alabama mayor accused of assault by the citys white former police chief claimed Thursday that the two got into a dispute because the chief wouldnt hire black officers. She argued that it was clear from watching embarrassing city council meetings every week that he has some enemies. 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. Is there a reason you got rid of every white department head in the city? 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. 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. 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. 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. Bryant accused Newton of shouting an expletive F#*&- several times, and then, F#*& your wife multiple times and finally saying, Im going to F#*& your wife several times as well as some other sexually explicit comments. Newton was elected Aug. 25. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Those figures are only slightly higher than the 53 percent of the population Black folks make up, according to recent census records. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. We have lived in the past, he said. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com). I have never said a racist statement to that guy, never made one, and he plays the race card. I dont mind changes, if theyre done like theyre supposed to be done. Newton said he helped solidify an internal affairs office to keep track of any alleged police misconduct. 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 her photographer at a property he owns there. along with contact information, are available now on the wvt13m app. He said the accusations about the supposed threats on Bryants life were not worth responding to. Newton, elected in 2020 as the citys first Black mayor, is charged with third-degree assault of former Chief Dennis Reno. A veteran lawman has been chosen as the first Black police chief in Tarrant. Reno swore out a warrant on Newton for third-degree assault, and the mayor surrendered to authorities on Wednesday and was released on bond. Is it me or is it him?. We have lived in the past, he said. My council has put together a smear campaign saying that Ive been stealing money from the city so in the coming weeks were going to conduct an audit and when those results come back, Ill be able to clear my name on that as well.. Were not in the 50s anymore. He called himself the CEO of the city, and said Bryant and others have unfortunately been put off by the new structure hes installed. Address 2593 Commerce Circle Birmingham , Alabama , 35217 Phone 205-849-2811 Fax 205-849-2807 Tarrant Police Department / Tarrant City Jail Details Type Local Police Department Full Time Sworn Officers 25 Full Time Civilians 6 Map of Tarrant Police Department / Tarrant City Jail in Birmingham, Alabama PA - Feb 06, 2023. The charge comes after former Police Chief Dennis Reno claimed that Newton slammed a door on him shortly after he was put into office. Video of alleged "assault" on former Tarrant Police chief, Newton surrendered to authorities Wednesday after retired Chief Dennis Reno swore out a warrant, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Im more than qualified to be the mayor of Tarrant. Newton said Reno told him that he didnt hire Black officers because Black officers dont like to police their own.. Hes lying, Reno said of the mayor. Newton, the citys first Black Mayor, praised Majors exemplary record of service. My thing is, I was elected to run the city. 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. Ill take a voice stress analysist and a polygraph with the person of his (Newtons) choosing. Police Dept. Tarrant City Council member Tommy Bryant was arrested Monday after he reportedly attacked Mayor Wayman Newton, according to the mayor. 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. He was charged with third-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor. Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Newton is considered innocent until proven guilty and he has called the charge bogus. The Tribune is awaiting a call back from his attorney. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Mayor Wayman Newton on Thursday confirmed Jefferson County Sheriff's Capt. Now all of a sudden hes in office and I work for him for two hours and Im a racist? 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 the second time in one week, city councilman Tommie Bryant was arrested.According to Tarrant's police chief, the latest arrest happened Thursday morning."He turned himself in at the county jail today on an outstanding warrant for theft of services," chief Wendell Major explained. 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. Police Department :: City of Nashville Reno retired on Jan. 1 after more than four decades of police work. Site Map. In an interview, the mayor denied ever slamming the door on Renos arm. Additional Information. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020 when the two got into a verbal dispute. George confirmed that changes to the department made it so that one officer would be in charge of the internal affairs department, rather than a previous system that would tap an available detective or lieutenant to handle complaints. After months of pushback from the majority of council members, Newton said he hopes the city can eventually move in a positive direction. He was released at 4:29 p.m. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com). This is not true, and I fully expect to be exonerated., Asked for a response to the mayors statement, Reno last year said, I only worked for him for two hours. Police Director Search - City of Memphis 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.. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020 when the two got into a verbal dispute. Newton said he feels he represents all of the people that want to change the city. The full press conference can be watched in the video player above. He said it all started during a conversation about hiring practices at the police department. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. And thats what Ive been doing, he said. North Texas Interoperable Radio Network (NTIRN) Project 25 Phase II. But Reno said he has his own video of the incident and it shows the door being slammed on his elbow. Perry A. Tarrant Full Bio Cerelyn 'CJ' Davis Cerelyn 'CJ' Davis He was released at 4:29 p.m. A call to the Tarrant City Hall and the Mayors Office went unanswered Wednesday afternoon. 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. Police Department | Mansfield, TX Careers Records & Reports Jail Contact Us Animal Care & Control Compliments/ Complaints Stay Connected Police Newsroom & Events Police Events City Events March 2023 There are no published events in current month. Proudly Managed & Hosted by Adam Black Media He said untrue things about him have been posted on the page, including that he tried to bribe officers to not arrest his cousin after a chase and crash. Do you really think that I would say something like that at a public meeting?. Sex Offender Registration - Tarrant County TX The city of Tarrant does not have a police chief or a fire chief at this time. Tarrant City Jail Inmate Search and Prison Information - McGehee, Arkansas 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. He is a dictatorial person, Bryant, 76, told The Daily Beast of Newton. 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. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Its people like him that every time theyre wrong they start playing the race card, Reno added. I dont mind changes, if theyre done like theyre supposed to be done. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Racial Profiling Policy. 1080 Mercedes Street. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. . The charge carries a bond of $1,000. 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. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Email Us. He aint going to cuss me. The conversation evolved into a shouting match, Newton said. Chief Wendell Major said this all stems from an argument between Councilman Bryant and Mayor Newton. Crime news across America. Newton was booked into the Jefferson County Jail in Bessemer at 4:09 p.m. Wednesday with bond set at $1,000. Bryant said he isnt opposed to changes in the city, but believes Newton is going about things in an aggressive way. (Jefferson County Jail). Bryant also blamed the mayor for firing people without the input of other city officials, such as when he axed Jason Rickels, the former fire department chief in Tarrant, after Rickels was arrested in Georgia in March. Reminds me of Adolf Hitler., Bryant has served as a councilman for 12 years, and said hes lived in Tarrant for most of his life. He also is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and consulted with the U.S. Department of State in training police forces in Afghanistan. Tarrant Mayor-elect Wayman Newton was sworn in on Nov. 2, 2020 as the city's first Black mayor. Emergency visits to Tarrant City Jail are also allowed, subject to the on-duty Watch Commander's approval. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton surrendered to authorities Wednesday after the citys former police chief swore out a warrant on him. Although the numbers dont tell a damning tale, Newton said, Tarrant historically has had a problem.. Newton was arrested on June 16 and charged with third-degree assault, according to records from the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, which declined to elaborate on the charges prior to publication. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Deputy Chief David Carabajal Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton. Unfortunately, if you look at the city, and if you look at the people who are actually engaged in our politics, the people who make it a point to come and volunteer for our Farmers Market, people who make it a point to volunteer for other.at our rec center, they dont support those individuals. Deanna Taylor is one of those people. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton said he plans to be exonerated of a misdemeanor assault charge lodged against him by the citys former police chief. Reno left the chiefs job shortly after and officially retired Jan. 1, 2021 after 42 years in law enforcement. elected in 2020 as the citys first Black mayor, assault and other charges after he allegedly pulled a gun on an Atlanta realtor, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Newton, he said, has been a boon to the city because he recognizes its potential. He said they are two police officers and two firefighters short but said it is not hindering services to the city. Major is a graduate of Fairfield High School and served as a U.S. Marine. I actually question the legitimacy of those numbers like I question the legitimacy of the hiring practices of the previous police chief, he added. 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. Newton, a lawyer who was elected to office last year, was booked in the Jefferson County Jail for 20 minutes Wednesday. We would have friends and family that wouldnt come to Tarrant because they were known for it, Taylor said. And thats what Ive been doing, he said. He has support,' she said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 205-849-2811. 2 Baths. During his time as chief, Reno said he had a panel of three that recommend the hiring of officers, so he denies any claim that he had any discriminatory hiring practices. 201 N Tarrant St, Crowley, TX 76036 | MLS# 20207812 | Redfin Newton was arrested on June 16 and charged with third-degree assault, according to records from the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, which declined to elaborate on the charges prior to publication. Tom Green County District Attorney's Office. The fire department is also short two firefighters and neither department has a chief at this time. 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). All rights reserved (About Us). Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. He said he hopes to succeed in that endeavor. That has done a tremendous amount of damage to the city, because no one has had their eye on the future.. Tarrant's arrest. Newton, elected in 2020 as the city's first Black mayor,. This type of conduct will not be tolerated, and employees that choose to engage in such behavior will be dealt with swiftly and severely..