Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. Find an Ordinance; Apply For a Job; Submit a Bid; Submit a Comment; . Deputy Chief David Carabajal I hope it dont offend you. 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. Newman was arrested again on Aug. 18, 2021, on the harassment charged, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. I take that job and responsibility very seriously. My grandmother always used to say, The more things change, the more they stay the same, and unfortunately were starting to see the ugly head of the old Tarrant reared itself., Newton said there were no black officers on the force when he took office. He returned to Birmingham to practice law, specializing in real estate. 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. For example, he said, the firing of Rickels is something that he didnt need approval for. 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 on Thursday said Majors record of service proves hes the right man for the job and said he looks forward to having him as the departments chief. TX - Nov 13, 2022. Newton, a lawyer who was elected to office last year, was booked in the Jefferson County Jail for 20 minutes Wednesday. 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. Hes lying like Hell! Joel Kimbrough, who is white, has lived in Tarrant his whole life and owns a printing business there. Newton said the discord has continued. Phone: (817) 685-1500 The Euless Police Department provides law enforcement service for the community. 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. He described one meeting a few months back where he said Newton tried to instigate a fight with him. 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. 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. 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. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Major earned his criminal justice degree from UAB, and his law degree from Birmingham School of Law. 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.. Nearby homes similar to 201 N Tarrant St have recently sold between $367K to $367K at an average of $180 per square foot. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com). Staff Login X This is not true, and I fully expect to be exonerated, said Newton. Is there a reason you got rid of every white department head in the city? So, the guy didnt know what he was talking about.. Newton, he said, has been a boon to the city because he recognizes its potential. Tarrant County /QuickLinks.aspx. Proudly Managed & Hosted by Adam Black Media Tarrant resident Waynette Bonham said things seemed to be changing for the better under Newton. He never gave me a chance.. That has done a tremendous amount of damage to the city, because no one has had their eye on the future.. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. We have lived in the past, he said. 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). 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Reno said he goes to physical therapy twice a week because of the injury and may have to undergo surgery. Neither Rickels nor Steel responded to a request for comment for this story. Were not in the 50s anymore. The problem is, the four individuals on the council, they know their time is up, Newton 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 do not represent the Mayor, Councilor Bryant or any other employee in its individual capacity, he said. What happened is that he wanted me to bring him, on a Tuesday, he wanted by Friday, every personnel file from the police department. 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. 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.. Send it to The Daily Beasthere. 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 even claimed that he wore a bulletproof vest to council meetings a few times because he feared for his safety. The two divisions within the Department, Administrative Services and Operational Services, provide numerous specialized public safety services to the citizens of Hurst. 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. Westlake Fire operates on this system using Site 3 (Northeast Tarrant), Westlake contracts with the City of Keller for police and animal control services. 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. 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. Money Services Business Registrations; Moter Carriers According to jail records, Newton turned himself into the Jefferson County Jail at 4:09 p.m. 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). Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton has been found not guilty on charges of misdemeanor assault on the former police chief. Tom Green County District Attorney's Office. I only worked for him for two hours. According to charging documents, Bryant said the incident happened July 19, 2021, at Tarrant City Hall following a council meeting. A veteran lawman has been chosen as the first Black police chief in Tarrant. Newman released video footage of the alleged assault. Since becoming mayor, Newton has vowed to "clean up the city" but he said he has faced pushback from the. And thats what Ive been doing, he said. Westlake. He even claimed that he wore a bulletproof vest to council meetings a few times because he feared for his safety. He jumped up from that desk and he said, I want it by f****** Friday!. 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. A report from the Fort Worth Police Department shows violent crimes dropped by more than 13% in 2022. . 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. 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. 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. Reno believes Newton is making the issue about something that its not. In an interview, the mayor denied ever slamming the door on Renos arm. We would have friends and family that wouldnt come to Tarrant because they were known for it, Taylor said. Newton said the person was not related to him but was related to a council member. When Tarrant returned to his car, Aziz threw the shotgun at it. Newton, he said, has been a boon to the city because he recognizes its potential. 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. 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. During the press conference Thursday, Newton explained his versions of the incident that happened on Nov. 3, 2020. 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. 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. That has done a tremendous amount of damage to the city, because no one has had their eye on the future.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It is like he thinks hes God and he rules this city, she said. Share: Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on G+ Share with email. Newton denied any wrongdoing and released a video that he says proves he didnt assault the ex-chief. Im in charge of employees, he told The Daily Beast. And hopefully and once it works its way through the proper channels, those videos will be released to the public,' Newton said. 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. Ill take a voice stress analysist and a polygraph with the person of his (Newtons) choosing. Although the numbers dont tell a damning tale, Newton said, Tarrant historically has had a problem.. Newton said he also started an environmental task force and he is currently working on a project to refurbish and use vacant buildings and on a plan to bring a charter school to the city. We didnt see anything happen.'. I take that job and responsibility very seriously. 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. He said the accusations about the supposed threats on Bryants life were not worth responding to. 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. Hes lying, Reno said of the mayor. There was nothing about racism, nothing about me not hiring any blacks or anything. 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. Tarrant drove away at 1:55 pm. You can watch Newtons full press conference and reaction from his supporters below. Fax: 817-249-4803. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. 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. I know how things are supposed to be done, he said. The Tarrant Police Department is located on Commerce Circle, and the Chief of Police is Dennis Reno. 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. 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. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020, when the two got into a verbal dispute. 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. Contact the City; Licenses; I Want To. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton surrendered to authorities Wednesday after the city's former police chief swore out a warrant on him. Is it me or is it him?. Newton, elected in 2020 as the city's first Black mayor,. Now all of a sudden hes in office and I work for him for two hours and Im a racist? Bryant said he isnt opposed to changes in the city, but believes Newton is going about things in an aggressive way. 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. View All Oh yes, there's trouble, right here in Tarrant City, with a capital "T" that rhymes with "C" that stands for (racist) Conspiracy. 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). Kimbrough, 65, said the city has a lot of potential and a significant budget given its size. Whos the racist here? Reno sayshe only worked for Newton for two hours. The chief accused Newton, an attorney, of slamming a door on Reno. But he told The Daily Beast that the police department employs 18 officers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. Tue, Mar 14 . All rights reserved (About Us). Newton surrendered to authorities. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. They went through a process with these three people and then they would come to me and recommend who they wanted me to hire. Newton said that is partly due to better-paying opportunities and partly due to continued angst brought on by the former police chief. SOLD FEB 16, 2023. Newton, the citys first Black Mayor, praised Majors exemplary record of service. Staff Login X I actually question the legitimacy of those numbers like I question the legitimacy of the hiring practices of the previous police chief, he added. Since Reno left the force, he said around 12 officers have left the department. 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 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. Joel Kimbrough, who is white, has lived in Tarrant his whole life and owns a printing business there. (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 Mayor Wayman Newton has been found not guilty on charges of misdemeanor assault on the former police chief. Im more than qualified to be the mayor of Tarrant. 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. 2023 Benbrook Business & Community Showcase (BBCS) View All . YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Newton is considered innocent until proven guilty and he has called the charge bogus. The Tribune is awaiting a call back from his attorney. The conversation evolved into a shouting match, Newton said. Reno denies the claim that he didnt want to hire black officers. If you actually go and talk to most people that actually live here in the city, they actually like the things that Im doing.. The former chief said thats what started the verbal altercation. Alabama News Network Staff. $367,370 Last Sold Price. 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. Deanna Taylor is one of those people. Reno said he hired black officers during his time at Tarrant and said those officers had left the department to go to bigger cities and make more money. Im a man. Phone: 817-249-1610. That incident ultimately led to a misdemeanor assault charge filed by Reno against Newton. But he told The Daily Beast that the police department employs 18 officers. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020 when the two got into a verbal dispute. For further clarity of these information, therefore, visit the website or call 817-276-4700 for more. North Texas Interoperable Radio Network (NTIRN) Project 25 Phase II. Its like now all hes doing is trying to oppose anything Mayor Newton is doing. 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. Newton said the ongoing discord hasnt been easy and at times hes wanted to lash out. Type: Police Departments Population Served: 8148 A veteran lawman has been chosen as the first Black police chief in Tarrant. The incident was caught on camera. Newton, a lawyer who was elected to office last year, was booked in the Jefferson County Jail for 20 minutes Wednesday. Newton said he feels he represents all of the people that want to change the city. 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. Perry Tarrant has 34 years of law enforcement experience with the Tucson Police Department. . I know how things are supposed to be done, he said. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. He said it was created by a former employee and is, for lack of any way else of describing it, its just basically a racist page that smears my name and makes it the point to keep up division in the city., I have the truth behind me,' he said, and the truth is going to set me free.. She argued that it was clear from watching embarrassing city council meetings every week that he has some enemies. We have lived in the past, 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. 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., He said several police officers have left the department since he took office, in part for higher-paying jobs elsewhere and in part to what he said was a concerted effort by former employees to hurt the city and to ultimately hurt my administration.. Citations. Racial Profiling Policy. 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. Newton was booked into the Jefferson County Jail in Bessemer at 4:09 p.m. Wednesday with bond set at $1,000. Newton said he expects the charge against him to be dropped after video of the incident is handed over to the District Attorneys Office. 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. There has been discord in the city since Newton took office, and he says thats because some people are resistant to change. All Current Year LODDs Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Newton said Reno told him that he didnt hire Black officers because Black officers dont like to police their own.. 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. Chief Perry Tarrant 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. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton told a news conference that former chief Dennis Reno had a discriminatory practice of refusing to hire African Americans as police officers and wouldnt change it. 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. My grandmother always used to say, The more things change, the more they stay the same, and unfortunately were starting to see the ugly head of the old Tarrant reared itself., Newton said there were no Black officers on the force when he took office. Call (205) 849-2800 for more information. 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. TARRANT The mayor of Tarrant was arrested on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Cold Cases, Missing and Unsolved Crimes. Newton was arrested on Wednesday on a charge of third-degree assault. City Ordinances. At a press conference held about his arrest, 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. He called himself the CEO of the city, and said Bryant and others have unfortunately been put off by the new structure hes installed. Tarrant Police Chief Wendell Major confirms Bryant was arrested Thursday morning on a theft of services charge. Davis was one of about a dozen residents at City Hall Thursday to support the mayor. 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. Wayman Antoninus Newton, 40, is charged with assault in the third degree. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Give me a break! The charge comes after former Police Chief Dennis Reno claimed that Newton slammed a door on. This type of conduct will not be tolerated, and employees that choose to engage in such behavior will be dealt with swiftly and severely.. 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. Reno said his left elbow was injured in the incident. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Tarrant, AL 35217. The alleged assault happened on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020 when the two got into a verbal dispute. 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. Its my hope that once this video footage is released to the district attorney, theyll make the right decision and see this for what it is just a political stunt, just to smear my name,' Newton said. Reno on Friday said Newton released only part of the video. I didnt cuss him back. Tarrant's arrest. Do you really think that I would say something like that at a public meeting?. My election kind of represented a transition from the old guard to the new, Newton told The Daily Beast. 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