Brian Steel, Rickels attorney, told AL.com the charges were baseless. Perry A. Tarrant Full Bio Cerelyn 'CJ' Davis Cerelyn 'CJ' Davis I take that job and responsibility very seriously. 1080 Mercedes Street. 201 N Tarrant St, Crowley, TX 76036 | MLS# 20207812 | Redfin This is not true, and I fully expect to be exonerated.. 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. 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. Kimbrough, 65, said the city has a lot of potential and a significant budget given its size. 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. Although the numbers dont tell a damning tale, Newton said, Tarrant historically has had a problem.. Police Department Amy Marion Chief of Police (870) 845-3434 Pay Fines Police Department The Nashville Police Department is comprised of professional police officers who are eager to protect and serve our community. Joel Kimbrough, who is white, has lived in Tarrant his whole life and owns a printing business there. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. We would have friends and family that wouldnt come to Tarrant because they were known for it, Taylor said. I have never said a racist statement to that guy, never made one, and he plays the race card. Reno left the chiefs job shortly after and officially retired Jan. 1, 2021, after 42 years in law enforcement. Newton denied any wrongdoing and released a video that he says proves he didnt assault the ex-chief. A veteran lawman has been chosen as the first Black police chief in Tarrant. It all came to a head this past week when the former police chief Dennis Reno filed assault charges against Mayor Wayman Newton from an argument that happened on November 3, 2020. 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. This is the official Facebook page for the Tarrant Police Department located within Jefferson County, Alabama.. I only worked for him for two hours. Wendell Major has been selected, and approved by the City Council, to take over as the departments top cop. He said the accusations about the supposed threats on Bryants life were not worth responding to. 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. Tarrant Police Department | Tarrant City AL - Facebook When reached for comment, Newton said there had been a warrant taken out on him and that he had gotten it taken care of. Fax: 817-249-4803. The charge comes after former Police Chief Dennis Reno claimed that Newton slammed a door on. Additional Information. Emergency visits to Tarrant City Jail are also allowed, subject to the on-duty Watch Commander's approval. 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. View more recently sold homes. When asked how many black officers were on the force when the new mayor took office, Mayor Newton said there werent any. He said it all started during a conversation about hiring practices at the police department. Fort Worth Assistant Police Chief Robert Alldredge told city council members there were . Newton said the ongoing discord hasnt been easy and at times hes wanted to lash out. Reno retired after the incident because he said he knew he wouldnt be able to work with the new mayor. by All rights reserved (About Us). He returned to Birmingham to practice law, specializing in real estate. I do not represent the Mayor, Councilor Bryant or any other employee in its individual capacity, he said. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton acquitted on charges of assault - al Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Oh yes, there's trouble, right here in Tarrant City, with a capital "T" that rhymes with "C" that stands for (racist) Conspiracy. Those figures are only slightly higher than the 53 percent of the population Black folks make up, according to recent census records. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Hes lying, Reno said of the mayor. But he told The Daily Beast that the police department employs 18 officers. We have people kicking against change and we need change,' she said. 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. Im fairly certain that once people had an opportunity to look at these videos, theyre going to know the truth., Again, Im not above the law and so this is a criminal matter and its going to work its way through the courts,' he said. Major could be sworn in as early as Sept. 2. Newton is considered innocent until proven guilty and he has called the charge bogus. The Tribune is awaiting a call back from his attorney. For example, he said, the firing of Rickels is something that he didnt need approval for. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Newton denied harassing any city employees. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020, when the two got into a verbal dispute. 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. Major has been in law enforcement for more than 30 years, beginning his career with the Georgia Department of Corrections. 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. Deputy Chief Mike Woods, 55, a 32-year veteran of the division, will serve as interim chief while the city begins a national search for a permanent chief. And thats what Ive been doing, he said. Mayor Loxcil Tuck, 87, elected the citys first woman mayor in 2004, retired from politics. 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. She argued that it was clear from watching embarrassing city council meetings every week that he has some enemies. He said he hopes to succeed in that endeavor. 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? Mayor Newton is trying hard for the citizens of Tarrant, she said. 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. Perry Tarrant has 34 years of law enforcement experience with the Tucson Police Department. Veteran lawman named first Black police chief in Tarrant we post and write thousands of news stories a year, most wanted stories, editorials (under categories - blog) and stories of exonerations. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020 when the two got into a verbal dispute. That incident ultimately led to a misdemeanor assault charge filed by Reno against Newton. The fire department is also short two firefighters and neither department has a chief at this time. I was trying to piss him off to see if hed come after me, Bryant said. 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. Got a tip? 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. Newton said he went to speak to Police Chief Wendell . The full press conference can be watched in the video player above. TARRANT, Ala. (WIAT) The city of Tarrant has announced it has terminated its fire chief after he was arrested last month in Georgia. He was released at 4:29 p.m. 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 called himself the CEO of the city, and said Bryant and others have unfortunately been put off by the new structure hes installed. 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. . TARRANT The mayor of Tarrant was arrested on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Mayor Wayman Newton on Thursday confirmed Jefferson County Sheriff's Capt. Al Jones Appointed as New Arlington Police Chief - City of Arlington Learn more. He has support,' she said. 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. Newman released video footage of the alleged assault. Phone: 817-249-1610. Ft. 9960 Mescalbean, Fort Worth, TX 76036. Tarrant County plans to cut funding for affordable housing project in 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 Reno told him that he didnt hire Black officers because Black officers dont like to police their own.. I know how things are supposed to be done, he said. Tarrant City Police Department - Tarrant, Alabama Joel Kimbrough, who is white, has lived in Tarrant his whole life and owns a printing business there. 205-849-2811. Newton said the person was not related to him but was related to a council member. 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. A day after his arrest, Newman released video footage of the alleged assault. Reno retired on Jan. 1 after more than four decades of police work. Trouble continues brewing among Tarrant city officials. It is like he thinks hes God and he rules this city, she said. Newton said the discord has continued. 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. And so this opportunity and burden has been placed on me and I fully expect to rise to the occasion and face the day.. Newton, he said, has been a boon to the city because he recognizes its potential. 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. 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.. 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. 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. Tarrant resident Waynette Bonham said things seemed to be changing for the better under Newton. This is not true, and I fully expect to be exonerated., Asked for a response to the mayors statement, Reno said, I only worked for him for two hours. I jumped up and I said, Dont you ever curse me again, Reno recalled. 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. You can watch Newtons full press conference and reaction from his supporters below. along with contact information, are available now on the wvt13m app. 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. Video of the November incident was released by the city attorney Thursday evening. TX - Nov 13, 2022. 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. 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. (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.). 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TARRANT Former Tarrant Police Chief Dennis Reno responded Thursday to a press conference held by Mayor Wayman Newton earlier in the day. Newton surrendered to authorities. Former Tarrant Police Chief responds to Mayor's claims of 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. BREAKING: Tarrant Mayor arrested on assault charge 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. 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. The chief accused Newton, an attorney, of slamming a door on Reno, causing an injury to Renos shoulder.