tarrant city police chief
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Cold Cases, Missing and Unsolved Crimes. 205-849-2811. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The charge carries a bond of $1,000. Reno retired on Jan. 1 after more than four decades of police work. 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). Phone: 817-249-1610. He was charged with third-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor. Reno left the chiefs job shortly after and officially retired Jan. 1, 2021 after 42 years in law enforcement. I know how things are supposed to be done, he said. Newton said he expects the charge against him to be dropped after video of the incident is handed over to the District Attorneys Office. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020, when the two got into a verbal dispute. During the press conference Thursday, Newton explained his versions of the incident that happened on Nov. 3, 2020. A Facebook page called Whats really happening in the new Tarrant is another issue Newton addressed during the press conference. My election kind of represented a transition from the old guard to the new, Newton told The Daily Beast. That is all that was said. I do not represent the Mayor, Councilor Bryant or any other employee in its individual capacity, he said. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Newton was elected Aug. 25. When reached for comment, Newton said there had been a warrant taken out on him and that he had gotten it taken care of. Hes lying like Hell! Neither Rickels nor Steel responded to a request for comment for this story. along with contact information, are available now on the wvt13m app. 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. He said he cant comment on the case because of ongoing litigation. Newton, the first black mayor of the mostly Black Birmingham suburb of 6,400 people, said there were no Black people on the police force when he became mayor. The alleged assault occurred in November after he was elected mayor. Bryant said he isnt opposed to changes in the city, but believes Newton is going about things in an aggressive way. 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. Joel Kimbrough, who is white, has lived in Tarrant his whole life and owns a printing business there. 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. Electric Department; Fire; Library; Municipal Court; Parks and Recreation; Police; Public Works; Business. 4 were here. 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. I wasnt even in the hiring process. Now all of a sudden hes in office and I work for him for two hours and Im a racist? 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. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020 when the two got into a verbal dispute. I jumped up and I said, Dont you ever curse me again, Reno recalled. 2,044 Sq. 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.. He said they are two police officers and two firefighters short but said it is not hindering services to the city. He said Reno told him he hadnt hired Black officers because they werent qualified, and couldnt be trusted to police their own. 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 him shortly after he was put into office. He described one meeting a few months back where he said Newton tried to instigate a fight with him. 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. Newton surrendered to authorities Wednesday after retired Chief Dennis Reno swore out a warrant on Newton for third-degree assault. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. We appreciate the community's help in keeping everyone safe. Business . Chief Rickels had a felony charge and that also involved a gun,' he said. 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. 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? Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The full press conference can be watched in the video player above. 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. Newton, elected in 2020 as the citys first Black mayor, is charged with third-degree assault of former Chief Dennis Reno. 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. Bryant was arrested back on . The city of Tarrant does not have a police chief or a fire chief at this time. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Sign up now! Clara Palmore and her husband were also there to support Newton. 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. Give me a break! Fort Worth Assistant Police Chief Robert Alldredge told city council members there were . For example, he said, the firing of Rickels is something that he didnt need approval for. 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. Do you really think that I would say something like that at a public meeting?. Kimbrough, 65, said the city has a lot of potential and a significant budget given its size. Newman was arrested again on Aug. 18, 2021, on the harassment charged obtained by Bryant. 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. Electric Department; Fire; Library; Municipal Court; Parks and Recreation; Police; Public Works; Business. 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. 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. Major could be sworn in as early as Sept. 2. 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.. 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. 2023 Benbrook Business & Community Showcase (BBCS) View All . Major is a graduate of Fairfield High School and served as a U.S. Marine. Bryant wondered why Newton wasnt putting himself on leave given the fact that he fired Rickels for his charge. Robin Davis, spokeswoman for. He said he hopes to succeed in that endeavor. 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 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.). I fully believe, expect that, I will be fully exonerated., Tarrant resident Trulane Davis attended Thursdays press conference and said she was standing right there when the alleged assault happened. 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. Crime news across America. Deputy Chief David Carabajal 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. $367,370 Last Sold Price. Chief Dennis Reno I only worked for him for two hours. 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. 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. My thing is, I was elected to run the city. 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. by I actually question the legitimacy of those numbers like I question the legitimacy of the hiring practices of the previous police chief, he added. He never gave me a chance.. Newton, an attorney, is accused of slamming a door on Reno, causing an injury to Renos shoulder that may require surgery. According to charging documents, Bryant said the incident happened July 19, 2021, at Tarrant City Hall following a council meeting. TARRANT, Ala. (WIAT) Wayman Newton, the mayor of Tarrant, was charged with misdemeanor assault Wednesday. He has support,' she said. He even claimed that he wore a bulletproof vest to council meetings a few times because he feared for his safety. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Were not in the 50s anymore. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com). 4 Beds. And thats what Ive been doing, he said. We didnt see anything happen.'. City Ordinances. Neither Rickels nor Steel responded to a request for comment for this story. The mayor said he will address the warrant at a press conference at 10 a.m. Thursday. 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. He was released at 4:29 p.m. (Facebook). Milwaukee Police Department. Reno sayshe only worked for Newton for two hours. Staff Login X It is his goal to lead in an environment that fosters mutual respect and understanding, reflective of the professional standards expected from those he serves. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The mayor is accused of slamming a door on Reno, causing an injury to Renos shoulder that may require surgery. He accused Newton of failing to fill important vacant positions in the city, like the city clerk and the chief of police. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Newton surrendered to authorities Wednesday after retired Chief Dennis Reno swore out a warrant on Newton for third-degree assault. All rights reserved (About Us). I was trying to piss him off to see if hed come after me, Bryant said. Tarrant Mayor-elect Wayman Newton was sworn in on Nov. 2, 2020 as the city's first Black mayor. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. But when he stood up in that desk and said that to me, I knew good and well right then I wasnt going to throw a 42-year career away off somebody like him. For example, he said, the firing of Rickels is something that he didnt need approval for. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Reno denies the claim that he didnt want to hire black officers. Major has been in law enforcement for more than 30 years, beginning his career with the Georgia Department of Corrections. Pembroke Pines Police Department. Tarrant resident Waynette Bonham said things seemed to be changing for the better under Newton. Reno left the chiefs job shortly after and officially retired Jan. 1, 2021, after 42 years in law enforcement. I dont mind changes, if theyre done like theyre supposed to be done. I take that job and responsibility very seriously. Newton said he went to speak to Police Chief Wendell . Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton was arrested June 16, 2021 on a misdemeanor assault charge against the city's former police chief. And thats what Ive been doing, he said. 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.