The conversation evolved into a shouting match, Newton said. Share: Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on G+ Share with email. For example, he said, the firing of Rickels is something that he didnt need approval for. 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. Major earned his criminal justice degree from UAB, and his law degree from Birmingham School of Law. Ever since Newton, 40, took office after winning his election in Tarrant, Alabamapopulation 7,000by nearly 40 percentage points last year, a small minority of mostly white residents and city leaders have had it out for him, he told The Daily Beast. Newton said there is video of the alleged assault and he has ordered the city attorney to release the video footage to the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office, as well as video of Reno moving out of his office the following day. Citations. 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. Wendell Major has been selected, and approved by the City Council, to take over as the departments top cop. When asked how many black officers were on the force when the new mayor took office, Mayor Newton said there werent any. 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. 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. He described one meeting a few months back where he said Newton tried to instigate a fight with him. The chief walked away like nothing happened,' she said. We appreciate the community's help in keeping everyone safe. 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. 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. Those figures are only slightly higher than the 53 percent of the population Black folks make up, according to recent census records. According to charging documents, Bryant said the incident happened July 19, 2021, at Tarrant City Hall following a council meeting. Email Us. All rights reserved (About Us). There has been discord in the city since Newton took office, and he says thats because some people are resistant to change. 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. He has no regard for the proper procedures to do anything.. 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. 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. There were no black officers, said Newton. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Newton said he feels he represents all of the people that want to change the city. 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. The policy that I referred to that Mr. Reno had in place was simple. We have lived in the past, he said. 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 surrendered to authorities. 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. He said the accusations about the supposed threats on Bryants life were not worth responding to. 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. 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. Bryant accused Newton of shouting an expletive F#*&- several times, and then, F#*& your wife multiple times and finally saying, Im going to F#*& your wife several times as well as some other sexually explicit comments. 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. Is it me or is it him?. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. . 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. Learn more. He is also past national president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. Newton, elected in 2020 as the citys first Black mayor, is charged with third-degree assault of former Chief Dennis Reno. My election kind of represented a transition from the old guard to the new, Newton told The Daily Beast. Country: United States Address 1: 2593 Commerce Cir City: Tarrant State: Alabama Zip Code: 35217-2352 County: Jefferson County Phone #: 205-849-2811 Fax #: 205-849-2807. Davis was one of about a dozen residents at City Hall Thursday to support the mayor. I take that job and responsibility very seriously. 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. Reno left the chiefs job shortly after and officially retired Jan. 1, 2021 after 42 years in law enforcement. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. Reno left the chiefs job shortly after and officially retired Jan. 1, 2021 after 42 years in law enforcement. 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. Major is a graduate of Fairfield High School and served as a U.S. Marine. He is a dictatorial person, Bryant, 76, told The Daily Beast of Newton. dustin blake wood in texas tarrant county 11/12/1985 at 12:00. notice: mugshots.com is a news organization. All Current Year LODDs He called the charges a political stunt to smear his name. Chief Dennis Reno Additional Information. If you actually go and talk to most people that actually live here in the city, they actually like the things that Im doing.. (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. Westlake. 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.. Send it to The Daily Beasthere. Tarrant resident Waynette Bonham said things seemed to be changing for the better under Newton. I was trying to piss him off to see if hed come after me, Bryant said. He explained his version of the events during a phone call with The Tribune. The mayor has not named replacements for Rickels or Reno. 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. 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 called himself the CEO of the city, and said Bryant and others have unfortunately been put off by the new structure hes installed. Now all of a sudden hes in office and I work for him for two hours and Im a racist? TARRANT The mayor of Tarrant was arrested on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. For further clarity of these information, therefore, visit the website or call 817-276-4700 for more. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It is like he thinks hes God and he rules this city, she said. In an interview, the mayor denied ever slamming the door on Renos arm. Type: Police Departments Population Served: 8148 we post and write thousands of news stories a year, most wanted stories, editorials (under categories - blog) and stories of exonerations. The charge carries a bond of $1,000. Hes lying like Hell! Mayor Wayman Newton on Thursday confirmed Jefferson County Sheriff's Capt. 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 is a dictatorial person, Bryant, 76, told The Daily Beast of Newton. Im more than qualified to be the mayor of Tarrant. 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? 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. WI - Feb 07, 2023. Jefferson County Sheriff's Capt. We have lived in the past, he said. I have never said a racist statement to that guy, never made one, and he plays the race card. He accused Newton of failing to fill important vacant positions in the city, like the city clerk and the chief of police. He has been on workmans comp since the injury. This is not true, and I fully expect to be exonerated.. 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. 200 Taylor Street - 7th Floor Fort Worth, TX 76196 817-884-3354 The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office Sex Offender Registration Unit is responsible for the investigation and enforcement of the Sex Offender Registration Program required in Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. He said he cant comment on the case because of ongoing litigation. When Tarrant returned to his car, Aziz threw the shotgun at it. Major could be sworn in as early as Sept. 2. I mean come, on. The visits at Tarrant City Jail take place on Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm. That is all that was said. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. This is not true, and I fully expect to be exonerated, said Newton. Newton said he helped solidify an internal affairs office to keep track of any alleged police misconduct. 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. Mayor Loxcil Tuck, 87, elected the citys first woman mayor in 2004, retired from politics. 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.. He was released at 4:29 p.m. 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. Ft Worth Tarrant County Texas Arrests, Warrants & Most Wanted. 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. (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 never even got involved in the interviews, said Reno. (Jefferson County Jail). The charge comes after former Police Chief Dennis Reno claimed that Newton slammed a door on. He said they are two police officers and two firefighters short but said it is not hindering services to the city. Were going to continue to rebuild the city. As Marshal Granger approached the man's home, the man opened fire with a 16 gauge shotgun. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Newton denied harassing any city employees. TARRANT, Ala. (WIAT) Wayman Newton, the mayor of Tarrant, was charged with misdemeanor assault Wednesday. 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. 2023 Benbrook Business & Community Showcase (BBCS) View All . The chief accused Newton, an attorney, of slamming a door on Reno. He called himself the CEO of the city, and said Bryant and others have unfortunately been put off by the new structure hes installed. During the press conference Thursday, Newton explained his versions of the incident that happened on Nov. 3, 2020. I dont take sides between politicians.. 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. 4 Beds. I dont mind changes, if theyre done like theyre supposed to be done. I jumped up and I said, Dont you ever curse me again, Reno recalled.