Police clear one man of wrongdoing in Montgomery riverfront brawl
The Montgomery Police Department said Friday it has cleared one white man of criminal charges involved with the riverfront brawl Saturday after learning he was trying to break up the fight.
Officers analyzed videos of the fights and interviewed co-captain Dameion Pickett, who was initially attacked, to determine the man's innocence. The man was not named in the release.
“Thanks to the diligence and dedication of the Montgomery Police Department, the Harriott II Crew and the help of witnesses, the four assailants who came from out-of-town to cause chaos and sow divisiveness are now in custody," Mayor Steven Reed said in a statement. "The case is not quite yet closed, but our message is clear. In Montgomery, not only will we protect our team members, but we will protect our citizens. If you violate the sanctity of our community and the safety of our citizens, then you will be brought to justice.”
The FBI has not ruled the attack as a hate crime.
“This is a fluid investigation. At this point, the FBI has not classified these attacks as a hate crime, but the investigation is ongoing," Reed said in a statement. "As a former judge and as an elected official, I will trust this process and the integrity of our justice system. However, my perspective as a Black man in Montgomery differs from my perspective as mayor.
"From what we’ve seen from the history of our city — a place tied to both the pain and the progress of this nation – it seems to meet the moral definition of a crime fueled by hate, and this kind of violence cannot go unchecked. It is a threat to the durability of our democracy, and we are grateful to our law enforcement professionals, partner organizations and the greater community for helping us ensure justice will prevail."
More: Previous Coverage Police arrest fourth white boater after Montgomery riverfront brawl
Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Police clear one man of wrongdoing in Montgomery riverfront brawl
