Chaotic Brawl Erupts on Popular Riverfront Dock in Montgomery, Alabama
Multiple arrest warrants have been issued following a violent brawl that unfolded on a popular riverfront dock in Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday. The incident, which was captured on video and subsequently went viral online, showed a Black man being physically assaulted by a group of White men. The altercation escalated into a massive brawl, with individuals throwing punches, hitting each other with chairs, and even tossing someone into the water.
Authorities were called to the scene and found a large group of people engaged in a physical altercation. Several individuals have been detained, and charges are pending. An official news conference is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon to provide further details on the incident.
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed expressed his condemnation of the incident, stating that the police acted swiftly to detain the reckless individuals responsible for attacking a man who was simply doing his job. Mayor Reed emphasized that violence will not be tolerated in their community.
According to eyewitness Lauren Spivey, the brawl began when a request was made to move a boat that was blocking the docking area for the large Harriott II Riverboat. The riverboat, which was filled with guests, had been waiting for almost 45 minutes for the smaller boat to be moved, but nobody came forward to assist.
As a worker attempted to untie the small boat, a man described as White ran over and engaged in a heated argument. The situation quickly escalated when one of the men in the group pushed the worker and threw a punch, leading others to join in the assault. Videos captured from the incident show multiple individuals attacking the worker while he was on the ground.
After the fight was broken up, the smaller boat and those involved did not leave the area, leaving onlookers shocked by their sense of entitlement. Moments later, a second brawl erupted as the Harriott II Riverboat was able to dock. Footage shows the riverboat workers confronting the occupants of the smaller boat, resulting in another physical altercation.
Videos of the chaos depict punches being thrown between the groups involved, and at least one individual being knocked into the water. Towards the end of the footage, a man and a woman, both appearing to be White, are seen being viciously attacked with chairs.
The Montgomery Police Department received a call about the incident around 7 p.m. and arrived at the scene to witness people being taken into custody. Mayor Reed labeled the incident as unfortunate and urged the community not to become desensitized to violence.
As of now, there are four active warrants related to the brawl, and more may follow as additional footage is reviewed. The city is determined to hold those responsible for violence accountable through the criminal justice system.