Staff Login X Newton said he expects the charge against him to be dropped after video of the incident is handed over to the District Attorneys Office. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. I didnt cuss him back. Newton denied any wrongdoing and released a video that he says proves he didnt assault the ex-chief. Milwaukee Police Department. 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. Learn more. I dont mind changes, if theyre done like theyre supposed to be done. As for his shoulder, he said he might have to have surgery but that doctors are doing all they can to prevent that from happening. Asked how him being arrested for assault is different than the arrest of the former fire chief, Newton said, This is a misdemeanor. Download original document: Document text This text is machine-read, and may contain errors. 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. TARRANT, Ala. (WBRC) - Tarrant City Councilman Tommy Bryant was arrested Thursday morning, Nov. 10, his second arrest this week, after a towing company says he drove away in his vehicle without paying. Find an Ordinance; Apply For a Job; Submit a Bid; Submit a Comment; . Business . Additional Information. . 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. Newman was arrested again on Aug. 18, 2021, on the harassment charged, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. 4 Beds. He accused Newton of failing to fill important vacant positions in the city, like the city clerk and the chief of police. He called himself the CEO of the city, and said Bryant and others have unfortunately been put off by the new structure hes installed. PA - Feb 06, 2023. City Ordinances. During the press conference Thursday, Newton explained his versions of the incident that happened on Nov. 3, 2020. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. TARRANT, Ala. (WIAT) Wayman Newton, the mayor of Tarrant, was charged with misdemeanor assault Wednesday. A report from the Fort Worth Police Department shows violent crimes dropped by more than 13% in 2022. . TCOLE Licensing. Newton said he feels he represents all of the people that want to change the city. 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. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 1133 East Lake Blvd | Tarrant, AL 35217 | 205-849-2800. a municode design. 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. City Manager Trey Yelverton has appointed Col. Al Jones, a 25-year veteran of the Baltimore County Police Department, as the City of Arlington's new police chief. And thats what Ive been doing, he said. Im in charge of employees, he told The Daily Beast. Im in charge of employees, he told The Daily Beast. We have lived in the past, he said. Robin Davis, spokeswoman for. Mayor Newton is trying hard for the citizens of Tarrant, she said. Copyright All rights reserved. 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. Police | Tarrant, AL Police Call 911 in case of emergency. Im glad that we can finally put that behind me.. 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.. I take that job and responsibility very seriously. There were no black officers, said Newton. Were not in the 50s anymore. Tarrant Police Chief Wendell Major confirms Bryant was arrested Thursday morning on a theft of services charge. The charge carries a bond of $1,000. I was trying to piss him off to see if hed come after me, Bryant said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Call (205) 849-2800 for more information. Clara Palmore and her husband were also there to support Newton. Reno retired on Jan. 1 after more than four decades of police work. Newton said he went to speak to Police Chief Wendell . In response, Bryant claimed that he called Newton little boy, and that Newton had been trying to instigate himand that he meant the comment only to turn the tide on the situation. For his part, Reno denied any pattern of discriminatory hiring. He was charged with third-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor. When asked how many black officers were on the force when the new mayor took office, Mayor Newton said there werent any. (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. There has been discord in the city since Newton took office, and he says thats because some people are resistant to change. Newton, the citys first Black mayor who has often been at odds with the council, was arrested on the charges in 2021 and maintained his innocence in both cases. During the meeting, Newton said, he confronted Renowho was still chief at the timeover what the mayor claimed was a longstanding practice of not hiring Black police officers in the city. Newton said the opposition reached its apex last week, when Dennis Reno, the white former chief of police in Tarrant, accused the mayor of assaulting him during a conversation in Newton's. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). He is also past national president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. Mayor Wayman Newton on Thursday confirmed Jefferson County Sheriff's Capt. FL - Feb 09, 2023. Newton was also acquitted on a harassment charge obtained by city council member . Reno left the chiefs job shortly after and officially retired Jan. 1, 2021, after 42 years in law enforcement. He has support,' she said. 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. Mayor Loxcil Tuck, 87, elected the citys first woman mayor in 2004, retired from politics. Major could be sworn in as early as Sept. 2. Bryant wondered why Newton wasnt putting himself on leave given the fact that he fired Rickels for his charge. He is also past national president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. WI - Feb 07, 2023. Newton, he said, has been a boon to the city because he recognizes its potential. 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. . TARRANT Former Tarrant Police Chief Dennis Reno responded Thursday to a press conference held by Mayor Wayman Newton earlier in the day. Because thats the only thing he can come up with.. Texas police officer decertifications Locations: United States of America -> Texas Topics: Police Misconduct. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He does not plan to resign as mayor even though he fired the former fire chief after he was arrested on an assault charge because he said his own charge is a misdemeanor, and the charge against the former fire chief involved felony charges and a firearm. 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.. 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. He can look and see what it could be without the historical hindsight of what it was, he said. 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. And thats what Ive been doing, he said. Newton said he helped solidify an internal affairs office to keep track of any alleged police misconduct. And as I stated before, there is a video of this incident, which will be released to the authorities. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Share: Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on G+ Share with email. At a certain point, I had to remind him that I was the mayor and kicked him out of my office, he told The Daily Beast. who left the position in November 2020 after a run-in with Newton, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Watch video of the incident below: Newton also said that since he took office, he has faced push back from city officials in multiple departments, stating that many are resistant to the changes Newton campaigned on. The police department is short two officers, Newton said. Newton was booked into the Jefferson County Jail in Bessemer at 4:09 p.m. Wednesday with bond set at $1,000. Kimbrough, 65, said the city has a lot of potential and a significant budget given its size. We appreciate the community's help in keeping everyone safe. They went through a process with these three people and then they would come to me and recommend who they wanted me to hire. Trouble continues brewing among Tarrant city officials. 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. The city of Tarrant considers these actions absolutely irresponsible and reckless, Newton said in a statement announcing Rickelss termination. For his part, Reno denied any pattern of discriminatory hiring. But he said people like Bryant and Reno are, in effect, stuck in the past: Theyre longing for a time that was., Got a tip? Former Tarrant Police Chief responds to Mayors claims of discriminatory hiring practices, 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), Obituary: Donald Leo Taylor (Sept. 13, 1938 Feb. 23, 2023) and Pamela Taylor (Nov. 5, 1943 Feb. 23, 2023), Trussville Police respond to 2 fights at Hewitt-Trussville High School today, Jasper man dies after single-vehicle collision in Hoover, Alabama State Chapter Receives NWTF Acreage Award, Savvy Senior: How to protect seniors from scam calls, Whats really happening in the new Tarrant, WATCH: Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton addresses his assault charge, Birmingham TV stations chip in, allowing ABC 33/40 employees to attend anchors funeral, Birmingham-Southern College: A solid investment for Alabama, 65-year-old pedestrian dies after dog attack in McDonalds Chapel Community. She argued that it was clear from watching embarrassing city council meetings every week that he has some enemies. Newton, elected in 2020 as the citys first Black mayor, is charged with third-degree assault of former Chief Dennis Reno. Job Opportunities Currently hiring APOST Certified Officers at jobsquest.org Click any thumbnail image to view a slideshow Police Contact Information Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He called himself the CEO of the city, and said Bryant and others have unfortunately been put off by the new structure hes installed. When Tarrant returned to his car, Aziz threw the shotgun at it. But he said it has been plagued by a lack of investment, empty storefronts, and what he calls a lack of foresight. Tarrant County /QuickLinks.aspx. Wayman Antoninus Newton, 40, is charged with assault in the third degree. 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. The chief walked away like nothing happened,' she said. Perry A. Tarrant Full Bio Cerelyn 'CJ' Davis Cerelyn 'CJ' Davis TARRANT, Ala. (WIAT) Wayman Newton, the mayor of Tarrant, was charged with misdemeanor assault Wednesday. Mayor Newton is trying hard for the citizens of Tarrant, she said. Wendell Major has been chosen as the first Black police chief in Tarrant. As Marshal Granger approached the man's home, the man opened fire with a 16 gauge shotgun. Posted on Monday, November 23, 2020. Tarrant, AL 35217. All rights reserved (About Us). Racial Profiling Policy. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Its like now all hes doing is trying to oppose anything Mayor Newton is doing. Newton only acknowledged using foul language one time in private with Bryant, after he said the councilman called him boy. If you know anything about the history of the South and race relations, to have some 75-year-old man calling a 40-year-old Black man a boy is very insulting, Newton said. Regular Council Meetings are held Every 1st and 3rd Monday's of each month @ 7PM. That has done a tremendous amount of damage to the city, because no one has had their eye on the future.. The city of Tarrant does not have a police chief or a fire chief at this time. 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. (Facebook). Reno said he goes to physical therapy twice a week because of the injury and may have to undergo surgery. TARRANT, Ala. (AP) A Black Alabama mayor accused of assault by the city's white former police chief claimed Thursday that the two got into a dispute because the chief wouldn't hire. 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. What happened is that he wanted me to bring him, on a Tuesday, he wanted by Friday, every personnel file from the police department. 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. Newton was arrested on Wednesday on a charge of third-degree assault. 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. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. He said the accusations about the supposed threats on Bryants life were not worth responding to. Newton, a lawyer who was elected to office last year, was booked in the Jefferson County Jail for 20 minutes Wednesday. The Tarrant mayor said that at that time the city did not have a single black police officer. 205-849-2811. We are committed to making our community a safe place to live, work, and visit. 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. Deanna Taylor is one of those people. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Find an Ordinance; Apply For a Job; Submit a Bid; Submit a Comment; . Phone: 817-249-1610. Newton said the ongoing discord hasnt been easy and at times hes wanted to lash out. (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.). Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton has been found not guilty on charges of misdemeanor assault on the former police chief. Joel Kimbrough, who is white, has lived in Tarrant his whole life and owns a printing business there. Its like now all hes doing is trying to oppose anything Mayor Newton is doing. Newton has not yet named replacements for Reno or Rickels. He is a dictatorial person, Bryant, 76, told The Daily Beast of Newton. Kimbrough, 65, said the city has a lot of potential and a significant budget given its size. along with contact information, are available now on the wvt13m app. For his part, Newton said most of the criticism by Bryant, Horton, and others who have opposed him is due to the fact that the city used to be run in a way that gave them more decision-making power than he believes they should haveand led to a cycle of stagnation. Newman was arrested again on Aug. 18, 2021, on the harassment charged obtained by Bryant. Send it to The Daily Beast here. This is the official Facebook page for the Tarrant Police Department located within Jefferson County, Alabama.. Reno left the chiefs job shortly after and officially retired Jan. 1, 2021 after 42 years in law enforcement. Im very, very excited.. Those figures are only slightly higher than the 53 percent of the population Black folks make up, according to recent census records. 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. Tarrant resident Waynette Bonham said things seemed to be changing for the better under Newton. I dont take sides between politicians.. I do not represent the Mayor, Councilor Bryant or any other employee in its individual capacity, he 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. And hopefully and once it works its way through the proper channels, those videos will be released to the public,' Newton said. 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. Give me a break! He jumped up from that desk and he said, I want it by f****** Friday!. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020 when the two got into a verbal dispute. Reno swore out a warrant on Newton for third-degree assault, and the mayor surrendered to authorities on Wednesday and was released on bond. Contact the City; Licenses; I Want To. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com). 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. He has no regard for the proper procedures to do anything.. 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. Newton said the opposition reached its apex last week, when Dennis Reno, the white former chief of police in Tarrant, accused the mayor of assaulting him during a conversation in Newtons office a day after his swearing-in back in November. TX - Nov 13, 2022. Major has been in law enforcement for more than 30 years, beginning his career with the Georgia Department of Corrections. Benbrook City Council. Fort Worth Assistant Police Chief Robert Alldredge told city council members there were . I was trying to piss him off to see if hed come after me, Bryant said. 1133 East Lake Blvd Tarrant, AL 35217 (205) 849-2800 . Neither Rickels nor Steel responded to a request for comment for this story. He went on to serve with the UAB Police Department, the Fairfield Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, where he has been for at least two decades. Pembroke Pines Police Department. The city of Tarrant does not have a police chief or a fire chief at this time. 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. In response, Bryant claimed that he called Newton little boy, and that Newton had been trying to instigate himand that he meant the comment only to turn the tide on the situation. Chief Rickels had a felony charge and that also involved a gun,' he said. TARRANT The mayor of Tarrant was arrested on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Newton is considered innocent until proven guilty and he has called the charge bogus. The Tribune is awaiting a call back from his attorney. I only worked for him for two hours. 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. Two different standards for two different people, he said. I only worked for him for two hours. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. My thing is, I was elected to run the city. 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. 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. Reno left the chiefs job shortly after and officially retired Jan. 1, 2021 after 42 years in law enforcement. 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. 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. Reno said his left elbow was injured in the incident. The two divisions within the Department, Administrative Services and Operational Services, provide numerous specialized public safety services to the citizens of Hurst. He is a dictatorial person, Bryant, 76, told The Daily Beast of Newton. But he said people like Bryant and Reno are, in effect, stuck in the past: Theyre longing for a time that was.. Contact the City; Licenses; I Want To. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton was arrested June 16, 2021 on a misdemeanor assault charge against the city's former police chief. The councilman went on to say longtime city employees were in a hostile situation under Newtons leadership, and accused the mayor of harassing multiple employees, including himself. The charge comes after former Police Chief Dennis Reno claimed that Newton slammed a door on. My election kind of represented a transition from the old guard to the new, Newton told The Daily Beast. 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. 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. A veteran lawman has been chosen as the first Black police chief in Tarrant. 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. He said he hopes to succeed in that endeavor. The mayor is accused of slamming a door on Reno, causing an injury to Renos shoulder that may require surgery. Newton, a lawyer who was elected to office last year, was booked in the Jefferson County Jail for 20 minutes Wednesday. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Money Services Business Registrations; Moter Carriers 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. Major replaces former Chief Dennis Reno, who left the position in November 2020 after a run-in with Newton. Alabama News Network Staff. Hes lying like Hell! The incident was caught on camera. The fire department is also short two firefighters and neither department has a chief at this time. (Jefferson County Jail). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The councilman went on to say longtime city employees were in a hostile situation under Newtons leadership, and accused the mayor of harassing multiple employees, including himself. View more recently sold homes. Jones, who currently serves as the chief of Baltimore County Police Department's Community Relations Bureau, was selected through a robust . Newton held a press conference at Tarrant City Hall on Thursday to discuss the case. A veteran lawman has been chosen as the first Black police chief in Tarrant. 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. 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. 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. Chief Perry Tarranthas 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 was booked into the Jefferson County Jail in Bessemer at 4:09 p.m. Wednesday with bond set at $1,000. But he said it has been plagued by a lack of investment, empty storefronts, and what he calls a lack of foresight. Although the numbers dont tell a damning tale, Newton said, Tarrant historically has had a problem.. For his part, Newton said most of the criticism by Bryant, Horton, and others who have opposed him is due to the fact that the city used to be run in a way that gave them more decision-making power than he believes they should haveand led to a cycle of stagnation. The policy that I referred to that Mr. Reno had in place was simple. Newton surrendered to authorities Wednesday, a month after Rickels was arrested in Georgia on assault, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. brittany: weeks after a tarrant councilman used a racial slur during a city meeting, the town's first black police chief wendell major is announc.ed wvtm 13's brea douglas met with him and mayor wayman newton, who nominated major during a racially tense time in tarrant.