Three Selma residents charged in Montgomery Riverfront brawl, Montgomery Police say

Three Selma residents have been charged with misdemeanor assault relating to a fight that broke out at Riverfront Park in Montgomery on Saturday.

A brawl broke out Saturday evening between private boat owners and crew members of a river cruise ship in Montgomery. Most of the cruise ship crew are Black, and some Black people who were visiting the park joined the fracas. Several observers captured video of the incident, and the fight has been viewed thousands of times on social media, gaining national attention.

Montgomery Police Chief Darryl J. Albert said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference that police have issued warrants for assault in the third degree for Richard Roberts, 48; Allen Todd, 23; and Zachary Shipman, 25. All three were identified as white males from Selma. Roberts has two outstanding warrants, and Todd and Shipman each have one, Albert said.

The suspects were to turn themselves in to the Selma Police Department Tuesday afternoon, after which they were to be transported to Montgomery, according to Albert.

Albert said that Riverfront Park was crowded Saturday because of a back-to-school event hosted by Montgomery Public Schools and Hyundai. The park’s dock is used by the Harriott II, a riverboat cruise ship that takes passengers on hourlong tours of the Alabama River.

According to Albert, the Harriott was trying to dock in its “designated and reserved” spot, but the spot was blocked by a privately owned pontoon boat. The spot has mooring masts and a gangway for the Harriott, but Albert said there was no signage identifying the spot.

The captain of the Harriott attempted to contact the boat owner via the ship’s public address system, but Albert said the only response from the boat owner was “obscene gestures, curse words and taunts.” When the ship’s co-captain, identified as Damien Pickett, came to shore via a smaller boat to deal with the situation, “a confrontation ensued.”

Pickett and a 16-year-old white male employee of the cruise ship who drove the smaller boat that brought Pickett from the Harriott to the dock were injured in the fracas. Pickett and the mother of the juvenile filed charges, Albert said.

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Albert said Montgomery Police want to talk with Reggie Green, 42, a Black male who is seen on some of the videos posted on social media apparently striking people with a folding chair.

Thirteen people were taken into custody and interviewed by Montgomery police Saturday. All were released. Albert said that they consulted with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and with the FBI to see if charges of inciting a riot or hate crimes were warranted. “The charges that are pending are appropriate based on what we see on social media,” Albert said, although he said more charges are likely as the investigation continues.

“Keep in mind, when this initially took place, the police department didn’t have the luxury of the videos” thousands have seen on social media, Albert said.

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said the “unfortunate event was brought on by reckless individuals who did not use good judgment.”

“This incident is isolated,” Albert said. “It will be over soon. We’re going to continue our investigation until we put this to rest. But make no mistake: our Fusion Center, our state police, our partnering agencies are all paying attention to what’s going on. And in terms of possible retaliatory acts, don’t come here with it. We’re not going to tolerate it.” 

Albert encouraged the public to continue to sending videos or evidence related to this case. This can be done by emailing Starcenter@montgomeryal.gov or calling 334-625-4000.  

See the full press conference here.