Alabama Law Enforcement Charges 3 Men After Fight Breaks Out at Riverfront Park

A chaotic brawl breaks out on a popular riverfront dock in Montgomery, Ala., on Aug. 5, 2023. Courtesy of Laurieann K Marie

After a hostile brawl at a riverfront dock in Montgomery, Alabama, law enforcement has charged three men and is continuing to investigate.

The Aug. 5 clash took place at Montgomery Riverfront Park and was captured on videos from different angles that were uploaded onto social media.

In one video, two men shoved each other before an eruption into several fist fights ended in a man being handcuffed by police after assaulting several people with a fold-up chair.

In another video, a woman alleged that people started the fight by assaulting a security officer who was trying to get them to move their boat, which in turn led to the conflict that was cheered on by onlookers.

Because the fight appeared to be racially charged, officials did say hate crime charges were considered but not likely.

Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert stated in a press conference on Aug. 8 that the incident took place between the co-captain of Harriott II Riverboat and a private boat owner and his family.

The private boat was docked in the Harriott’s designated space, which prohibited the docking of the riverboat for 45 minutes after the riverboat took over 200 passengers on a tour of the Alabama River, he said.

The inhabitants of the private boat refused to move and responded to the captain’s requests over the PA system with “obscene gestures, curse words, and taunting.”

“The co-captain was then picked up by a separate vessel and brought to the pier in an attempt to have a conversation with the private boat owners and/or have those boats moved so that the Harriott could dock,” Chief Albert said.

The confrontation that followed involved the co-captain, later identified as Damien Pickett, a black man, being attacked by the passengers of the private boat, all of whom are white, confirming the earlier video statement made by the woman filming the incident.

“Several members of the Harriott II came to Mr. Pickett’s defense, engaging in what we all have seen since on social media,” he said.

The suspects, all passengers on the pontoon boat, have been identified as 48-year-old Richard Roberts, charged with two counts of third-degree assault; Allen Todd, 23, charged with one count of third-degree assault; and Zachary Shipman, 25, charged with one count of third-degree assault.

Third-degree assault is a misdemeanor charge, Chief Albert said.

‘More Charges Likely’

Thirteen individuals were detained after the incident and interviewed, Chief Albert said.

“Those interviews lasted several hours,” he said. “At that time, all parties involved were released pending further investigation, but were all given instructions on how to secure warrants on the combatants.”

The investigation is ongoing with more charges likely, he said, and he encouraged the public to send more information, including videos of the incident.

Chief Albert named Mr. Pickett, a black male, as the victim, as well as a 16-year-old white male, both of whom were struck by the owners of the boat.

The juvenile was an employee of the smaller vessel who took Mr. Pickett over to the pontoon boat, he said, where they were both assaulted.

“His mother actually signed warrants on one of those individuals,” Chief Albert said.

“We have instructed those individuals to turn themselves into law enforcement at this time,” he said. “One is secured and in custody and the other two are set to turn themselves in within the next hour.”

Chief Albert identified the person wielding the folding chair as Reggie Gray, whom he asked to come to the station for more interviews.

No Charges of Hate Crime

In working with the FBI and the local district attorney, Chief Albert said there was consideration over whether charges in the case could be elevated to a hate crime and inciting a riot.

“At this time, the way the statutes read and the way the laws are crafted, we were unable to present any inciting a riot or racially biased charges at this time,” Chief Albert said.

He added that the incident isn’t indicative of the city of Montgomery.

“We’re about a good time, enjoying ourselves, and being neighborly,” he said. “So, it was quite disturbing that we saw this type of activity happening, and that’s why the Montgomery Police Department and all of our partnering agencies got together to make sure we are doing all we can to not only bring this case to a close but also to prevent it from happening in the future.”