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. 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.. Kimbrough, 65, said the city has a lot of potential and a significant budget given its size. 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 policy that I referred to that Mr. Reno had in place was simple. Newton turned himself into the Jefferson County Jail on Wednesday and was released a short time later after posting a $1,000 bond. Mayor Wayman Newton on Thursday confirmed Jefferson County Sheriffs Capt. He returned to Birmingham to practice law, specializing in real estate. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton has been found not guilty on charges of misdemeanor assault on the former police chief. She argued that it was clear from watching embarrassing city council meetings every week that he has some enemies. TARRANT, Ala. (WIAT) Wayman Newton, the mayor of Tarrant, was charged with misdemeanor assault Wednesday. Newton surrendered to authorities Wednesday, a month after Rickels was arrested in Georgia on assault, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. A day after his arrest, Newman released video footage of the alleged assault. 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. 4 were here. Tom Green County District Attorney's Office. Two different standards for two different people, he said. He accused Newton of failing to fill important vacant positions in the city, like the city clerk and the chief of police. 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. Is there a reason you got rid of every white department head in the city? 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. All rights reserved (About Us). Racial Profiling Policy. Contact the City; Licenses; I Want To. I didnt cuss him back. Tarrant Police Chief Wendell Major confirms Bryant was arrested Thursday morning on a theft of services charge. 1133 East Lake Blvd | Tarrant, AL 35217 | 205-849-2800. a municode design. Tarrant County /QuickLinks.aspx. Davis was one of about a dozen residents at City Hall Thursday to support the mayor. Newton said the discord has continued. The full press conference can be watched in the video player above. Im glad that we can finally put that behind me.. Major is a graduate of Fairfield High School and served as a U.S. Marine. He is also past national president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. As for Reno, he said he is not yet enjoying retirement because he misses going to work every day. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Tarrant resident Waynette Bonham said things seemed to be changing for the better under Newton. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. He explained his version of the events during a phone call with The Tribune. And thats what Ive been doing, he said. Call (205) 849-2800 for more information. The fate of a proposed affordable housing project in the often-neglected Las Vegas Trail neighborhood is in doubt, after Tarrant County officials said they will likely claw back $11.6 million in . Benbrook Police Department. Reno said he and Newton had only one conversation about the racial makeup of the police force and he told the mayor: I dont hire off race, I hire off qualifications.. 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. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton. Download original document: Document text This text is machine-read, and may contain errors. If you actually go and talk to most people that actually live here in the city, they actually like the things that Im doing.. Newman was arrested again on Aug. 18, 2021, on the harassment charged, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. 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. SOLD FEB 16, 2023. Newton is considered innocent until proven guilty and he has called the charge bogus. The Tribune is awaiting a call back from his attorney. That incident ultimately led to a misdemeanor assault charge filed by Reno against Newton. Newton was also acquitted on a harassment charge obtained by city council member Tommy Bryant who signed the misdemeanor warrant against him claiming the mayor made, in part, sexually explicit comments about the councilmans wife. 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). Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Newton, the citys first Black Mayor, praised Majors exemplary record of service. I know how things are supposed to be done, he said. Police Dept. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020, when the two got into a verbal dispute. That has done a tremendous amount of damage to the city, because no one has had their eye on the future.. Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Mayor Newton is trying hard for the citizens of Tarrant, she said. 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. Business . But he said people like Bryant and Reno are, in effect, stuck in the past: Theyre longing for a time that was.. He called himself the CEO of the city, and said Bryant and others have unfortunately been put off by the new structure hes installed. Ill take a voice stress analysist and a polygraph with the person of his (Newtons) choosing. Newton, a lawyer who was elected to office last year, was booked in the Jefferson County Jail for 20 minutes Wednesday. It is like he thinks hes God and he rules this city, she said. He called himself the CEO of the city, and said Bryant and others have unfortunately been put off by the new structure hes installed. The fire department is also short two firefighters and neither department has a chief at this time. 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. I actually question the legitimacy of those numbers like I question the legitimacy of the hiring practices of the previous police chief, he added. 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. Newton said that is partly due to better-paying opportunities and partly due to continued angst brought on by the former police chief. It is like he thinks hes God and he rules this city, she said. 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. 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. Reno left the chiefs job shortly after and officially retired Jan. 1, 2021 after 42 years in law enforcement. The two divisions within the Department, Administrative Services and Operational Services, provide numerous specialized public safety services to the citizens of Hurst. I mean come, on. He can look and see what it could be without the historical hindsight of what it was, he said. dustin blake wood in texas tarrant county 11/12/1985 at 12:00. notice: mugshots.com is a news organization. Asked why he went all the way to the Bessemer Cutoff to surrender, Newton said, It was evident that this is a political stunt, and it was made known to me that the media was at the Birmingham location.. Although the numbers dont tell a damning tale, Newton said, Tarrant historically has had a problem.. And Mayor Newton is trying to correct the things that had been so bad about the city of Tarrant from the previous administrationlike not having Black officers.. 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. Copyright All rights reserved. Electric Department; Fire; Library; Municipal Court; Parks and Recreation; Police; Public Works; Business. He was released at 4:29 p.m. Hes lying, Reno said of the mayor. 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. Brian Steel, Rickels attorney, told AL.com the charges were baseless. 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. 2593 Commerce Circle. Tarrant resident Waynette Bonham said things seemed to be changing for the better under Newton. 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.. Newton held a press conference at Tarrant City Hall on Thursday to discuss the case. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Kimbrough, 65, said the city has a lot of potential and a significant budget given its size. Lets get to the bottom of it and see who is lying.. Site Map. 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. 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. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com). (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. Tarrant City Council member Tommy Bryant was arrested Monday after he reportedly attacked Mayor Wayman Newton, according to the mayor. 2 Baths. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Then I realized that Im here for a reason, and that reason is that I represent all the people that wanted to change the city, but they werent able to change the city,' he said. Send it to The Daily Beast here. 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. 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. 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. Reno swore out a warrant on Newton for third-degree assault, and the mayor surrendered to authorities on Wednesday and was released on bond. He even claimed that he wore a bulletproof vest to council meetings a few times because he feared for his safety. 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. Benbrook City Council. I only worked for him for two hours. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Bryant said he isnt opposed to changes in the city, but believes Newton is going about things in an aggressive way. Aziz was awarded the New Zealand Cross, New Zealand's highest award for bravery. 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.. by This type of conduct will not be tolerated, and employees that choose to engage in such behavior will be dealt with swiftly and severely.. He cited a Facebook page called Whats Really Happening in the New Tarrant, as a source for much of the trouble. 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. Reno left the chiefs job shortly after and officially retired Jan. 1, 2021 after 42 years in law enforcement. Were in 2021 and its time for everybody to come together and work together to make this a great city., Hes going to make it. We have lived in the past, he said. I dont mind changes, if theyre done like theyre supposed to be done. In an ever-evolving city and police department, Deputy Chief Criado embraces new challenges and change. 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 also acquitted on a harassment charge obtained by city council member . And so this opportunity and burden has been placed on me and I fully expect to rise to the occasion and face the day.. Reno did not respond to repeated requests for comment for this story. 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. And hopefully and once it works its way through the proper channels, those videos will be released to the public,' Newton said. Clara Palmore and her husband were also there to support Newton. Wendell Major has been selected, and. 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. TARRANT, Ala. (WIAT) The city of Tarrant has announced it has terminated its fire chief after he was arrested last month in Georgia. I hope it dont offend you. 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. For his part, Reno denied any pattern of discriminatory hiring. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton was arrested June 16, 2021 on a misdemeanor assault charge against the city's former police chief. 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.. 2023 Benbrook Business & Community Showcase (BBCS) View All . 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. We have lived in the past, he said. He said it all started during a conversation about hiring practices at the police department. During his time as mayor, the city has started a low-cost vet clinic, offered food giveaways, and started a new program to help people purchase homes in Tarrant with specialty loans through Regions Bank. Wendell Major has been selected, and approved by the City Council, to take over as the departments top cop. She argued that it was clear from watching embarrassing city council meetings every week that he has some enemies. Major could be sworn in as early as Sept. 2. During the press conference Thursday, Newton explained his versions of the incident that happened on Nov. 3, 2020. Reno retired on Jan. 1 after more than four decades of police work. But he told The Daily Beast that the police department employs 18 officers. Video of the November incident was released by the city attorney Thursday evening. Pembroke Pines Police Department. Reno said he goes to physical therapy twice a week because of the injury and may have to undergo surgery. 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. Newton was booked into the Jefferson County Jail in Bessemer at 4:09 p.m. Wednesday with bond set at $1,000. This is the official Facebook page for the Tarrant Police Department located within Jefferson County, Alabama.. Tarrant Police Department | Tarrant City AL Major has been in law enforcement for more than 30 years, beginning his career with the Georgia Department of Corrections. Tue, Mar 14 . Newton surrendered to authorities. Bryant said he isnt opposed to changes in the city, but believes Newton is going about things in an aggressive way. 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. He said Reno told him he hadnt hired Black officers because they werent qualified, and couldnt be trusted to police their own. Newton denied harassing any city employees. 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. 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. He jumped up from that desk and he said, I want it by f****** Friday!. 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. When Tarrant returned to his car, Aziz threw the shotgun at it. Reno on Friday said Newton released only part of the video. Joel Kimbrough, who is white, has lived in Tarrant his whole life and owns a printing business there. He described one meeting a few months back where he said Newton tried to instigate a fight with him. Walter Franklin Granger Marshal Walter Granger was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had assaulted a boy earlier in the day. The Tarrant mayor said that at that time the city did not have a single black police officer. Major earned his criminal justice degree from UAB, and his law degree from Birmingham School of Law. My thing is, I was elected to run the city. TCOLE Licensing. 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. Newton graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts, then earned a political science degree at the University of Pennsylvania and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. 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. Phone: (817) 685-1500 The Euless Police Department provides law enforcement service for the community. The chief walked away like nothing happened,' she said. 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. 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 her photographer at a property he owns there. At this point Im happy. At a later press conference, Newton said 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, Newton said. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. 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). 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. Newton, he said, has been a boon to the city because he recognizes its potential. Newton said he helped solidify an internal affairs office to keep track of any alleged police misconduct. 4 Beds. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The former police chief alleged that Newton closed a door in the mayors office on his arm, but the Tarrant mayor called the allegations false. 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. 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 chief accused Newton, an attorney, of slamming a door on Reno. 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. When reached for comment, Newton said there had been a warrant taken out on him and that he had gotten it taken care of. A report from the Fort Worth Police Department shows violent crimes dropped by more than 13% in 2022. . He accused Newton of failing to fill important vacant positions in the city, like the city clerk and the chief of police. 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. Newton was arrested on Wednesday on a charge of third-degree assault. Major replaces former Chief Dennis Reno, who left the position in November 2020 after a run-in with Newton. Newton said hes moving forward with his plans to better the city. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. 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. Texas police officer decertifications Locations: United States of America -> Texas Topics: Police Misconduct. Those figures are only slightly higher than the 53 percent of the population Black folks make up, according to recent census records. 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. We would have friends and family that wouldnt come to Tarrant because they were known for it, Taylor said. 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. So, the guy didnt know what he was talking about.. 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. Emergency visits to Tarrant City Jail are also allowed, subject to the on-duty Watch Commander's approval. But Reno said he has his own video of the incident and it shows the door being slammed on his elbow. He has no regard for the proper procedures to do anything.. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020 when the two got into a verbal dispute. According to jail records, Newton turned himself into the Jefferson County Jail at 4:09 p.m. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton said he plans to be exonerated of a misdemeanor assault charge lodged against him by the citys former police chief. Posted on Monday, November 23, 2020. Newman was arrested again on Aug. 18, 2021, on the harassment charged obtained by Bryant. 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. we post and write thousands of news stories a year, most wanted stories, editorials (under categories - blog) and stories of exonerations. The charge comes after former Police Chief Dennis Reno claimed that Newton slammed a door on. 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.