He called himself the CEO of the city, and said Bryant and others have unfortunately been put off by the new structure hes installed. Reno on Friday said Newton released only part of the video. A veteran lawman has been chosen as the first Black police chief in Tarrant. I do not represent the Mayor, Councilor Bryant or any other employee in its individual capacity, he said. Posted on Monday, November 23, 2020. 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. 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. Major is a graduate of Fairfield High School and served as a U.S. Marine. He described one meeting a few months back where he said Newton tried to instigate a fight with him. Mayor Newton is trying hard for the citizens of Tarrant, she said. 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. The full press conference can be watched in the video player above. 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. I dont mind changes, if theyre done like theyre supposed to be done. Tarrant resident Waynette Bonham said things seemed to be changing for the better under Newton. Call (205) 849-2800 for more information. Proudly Managed & Hosted by Adam Black Media George confirmed that changes to the department made it so that one officer would be in charge of the internal affairs department, rather than a previous system that would tap an available detective or lieutenant to handle complaints. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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.. Ft. 9960 Mescalbean, Fort Worth, TX 76036. 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. George confirmed that changes to the department made it so that one officer would be in charge of the internal affairs department, rather than a previous system that would tap an available detective or lieutenant to handle complaints. He described one meeting a few months back where he said Newton tried to instigate a fight with him. I wasnt even in the hiring process. I was trying to piss him off to see if hed come after me, Bryant said. Site Map. Reno sayshe only worked for Newton for two hours. He can look and see what it could be without the historical hindsight of what it was, he said. I dont take sides between politicians.. 1080 Mercedes Street. 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.. Phone: 817-249-1610. Whos the racist here? Oh yes, there's trouble, right here in Tarrant City, with a capital "T" that rhymes with "C" that stands for (racist) Conspiracy. Emergency visits to Tarrant City Jail are also allowed, subject to the on-duty Watch Commander's approval. 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, said Newton. we post and write thousands of news stories a year, most wanted stories, editorials (under categories - blog) and stories of exonerations. Newton was also acquitted on a harassment charge obtained by city council member . We have lived in the past, he said. Learn more. Reno did not respond to repeated requests for comment for this story. Theyve been trying to do everything that they could possibly do to discredit me, and as theyve seen, Im not going anywhere,' he said. Perry Tarrant has 34 years of law enforcement experience with the Tucson Police Department. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton surrendered to authorities Wednesday after the city's former police chief swore out a warrant on him. 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). 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.. 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. 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. OPEN GOV US GOV US. He said he hopes to succeed in that endeavor. I take that job and responsibility very seriously. 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. Trouble continues brewing among Tarrant city officials. He has no regard for the proper procedures to do anything.. He is also past national president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. 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. Mayor Wayman Newton on Thursday confirmed Jefferson County Sheriff's Capt. Is it me or is it him?. There were no black officers, said Newton. 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. Theyre putting out what they want,' he 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. 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. I dont take sides between politicians.. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Regular Council Meetings are held Every 1st and 3rd Monday's of each month @ 7PM. All rights reserved (About Us). Brian Steel, Rickels attorney, told AL.com the charges were baseless. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Share: Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on G+ Share with email. There was nothing about racism, nothing about me not hiring any blacks or anything. The two divisions within the Department, Administrative Services and Operational Services, provide numerous specialized public safety services to the citizens of Hurst. 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. Crime news across America. Newton, an attorney, is accused of slamming a door on Reno, causing an injury to Renos shoulder that may require surgery. Newton surrendered to authorities Wednesday after retired Chief Dennis Reno swore out a warrant on Newton for third-degree assault. 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. Chief Wendell Major said this all stems from an argument between Councilman Bryant and Mayor Newton. Me and my husband are behind him 100 percent and were going to see this thing turn around., It feels good to know that people are supporting me and also people that actually witnessed the incident are standing behind me and speaking the truth,' Newton said. Tarrant, AL 35217. 4 were here. A day after his arrest, Newman released video footage of the alleged assault. And so this opportunity and burden has been placed on me and I fully expect to rise to the occasion and face the day.. He said Reno told him he hadnt hired Black officers because they werent qualified, and couldnt be trusted to police their own. 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. Wendell Major has been selected, and. The mayor said he will address the warrant at a press conference at 10 a.m. Thursday. I was trying to piss him off to see if hed come after me, Bryant said. A silver 2005 Subaru Outback matching the description of Tarrant's vehicle was seen by a police unit, and a pursuit was initiated at 1:57 pm. Newton surrendered to authorities Wednesday after retired Chief Dennis Reno swore out a warrant on Newton for third-degree assault. 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. And so, unfortunately, its going to probably be another three years, but I feel certain that in 2024, that the citizens are going to clean house and we will actually have a council that is representative of the city and that wants to move the city forward.. Those figures are only slightly higher than the 53 percent of the population Black folks make up, according to recent census records. Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton was arrested June 16, 2021 on a misdemeanor assault charge against the city's former police chief. I mean come, on. In an ever-evolving city and police department, Deputy Chief Criado embraces new challenges and change. Newton said the discord has continued. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Newton is considered innocent until proven guilty and he has called the charge bogus. The Tribune is awaiting a call back from his attorney. According to charging documents, Bryant said the incident happened July 19, 2021, at Tarrant City Hall following a council meeting. He said Reno told him he hadnt hired Black officers because they werent qualified, and couldnt be trusted to police their own. Newton was arrested on Wednesday on a charge of third-degree assault. For his part, Reno denied any pattern of discriminatory hiring. 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 were here. He was charged with third-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor. Contact the City; Licenses; I Want To. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. All rights reserved, Reward Offered as Montgomery County Deputies Hope to Find Woman, Selma Police Investigating Man's Apparent Murder, Montgomery Police Need Help in Homicide Investigation, Montgomery Firefighters Investigating Large Church Fire Near Downtown, Pedestrian Killed in Three-Car Crash in Troy. 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. Fax: 817-249-4803. Tarrant City Police Department - Tarrant, Alabama. 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. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 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. Do you really think that I would say something like that at a public meeting?. 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 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.).