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Montgomery Riverfront Park brawl: What we know today after 4 charged in videoed fight

• Updated: Aug. 10, 2023, 4:19 p.m.
• | Published: Aug. 07, 2023, 6:00 a.m.

• Jeremy Gray | [email protected]
• Lawrence Specker | [email protected]
• Carol Robinson | [email protected]

A Saturday night brawl at Montgomery’s riverfront captured in multiple videos was national news Sunday but many questions still surround the incident.

On Tuesday, police said three people had been charged in connection to the incident: Richard Roberts, 48, two counts of third-degree assault; Allen Todd, 23, one count of third-degree assault, and Zachary Shipman, 25, one count of third-degree assault. All charges are misdemeanors.

Here is full coverage of the case

Roberts was in custody on Tuesday; Todd and Shipman surrendered on Wednesday .

A fourth man - 42-year-old Reggie Gray - is sought for questioning. The chief described him as the man seen on video “wielding” a folding chair and hitting a woman over the head with that chair.

On Thursday, police said Mary Todd, 21, surrendered to authorities on a third-degree assault charge . She is being held in Montgomery’s Municipal Jail.

The two victims told police the group of white men who attacked them were drunk and yelled racist slurs.

Here’s what we know today:

How did this all begin?

Montgomery police said they were called at about 7 p.m. Saturday to the 200 block of Coosa Street, the area of Montgomery Riverfront Park, on a disturbance.

“At the scene, they located a large group of subjects engaged in a physical altercation. Several subjects have been detained and any charges are pending,” a police statement late Saturday night read.

Multiple videos posted to social media suggest the brawl started when a pontoon boat stopped at the riverf ront, preventing a riverboat from docking there.

Witnesses said a riverboat worker was attacked by people onboard the pontoon boat.

A Black versus White brawl took place at Montgomery Alabama, racial tension erupted when a black securiry guard was attacked by a group of white men. [TSHEGO] pic.twitter.com/EY7QzM6Tgx — TSHEGO (@TSHEGOMEDIA2021) August 7, 2023

What do the videos show?

A video clip shared by Josh Moon , a reporter for the Alabama Political Reporter, shows the scuffle beginning as a Black man who appears to be in a docks worker uniform talks to a white man.

Another white man -- shirtless -- strikes or shoves the Black man.

The incident appeared to unfold largely along racial lines.

The dock worker and the man who struck him engaged in a shoving match before the first white man placed a hand on the Black man in an apparent effort to separate the two.

Two more shirtless white men charged in, one tackling the Black man to the dock and the other piling on, rapidly joined by a fourth shirtless white man, one of whom shoved away another white man who seemed to try to intervene.

Two white women also were there, though it wasn’t clear whether they were supporting the four-on-one fight then in progress or trying to intervene.

A large and vocal audience, consisting of people on the riverboat from which the first video was shot, gathered, as did a crowd overlooking from the dock.

In this screencapture of a video, provided by The Associated Press, Anwar Price (wearing a blue shirt with a yellow Nike logo) attempts to separate people involved in the riverfront brawl in Montgomery, Alabama, on Saturday, Aug. 5. Price was among the people who attempted to break up the violence.

In the first video, the fight begins to break up as a Black bystander joins in. Another jumps off the riverboat, swimming to join in.

The first Black man, identifiable by his black shorts and white shirt, is physically confronted by one of the women.

A second video , taken moments later, shows a group of Black men running off the riverboat.

They converge on a pontoon boat that apparently carried some of the parties involved in the incident.

Within seconds fighting erupts again, between two white men and white woman who were on the pontoon boat, another white man and white woman who appeared to be trying to get to it, and more than a dozen Black men and women.

Police officers or uniformed security guards can then be seen trying to break things up.

The brawling continued for several moments before tapering off. At that point officers began cuffing participants, Black and white.

Who was involved?

The person seen swimming is a 16-year-old identified only as Aaren, a statement from publicist Makina Lashea read.

“In the face of adversity, Aaren selflessly came to the rescue of a fellow colleague, showcasing courage beyond his years,” the statement from Lashea read.

“Aaren’s unwavering commitment brings immense pride to his parents, leaving him feeling grateful and touched by the strong support of the community. With his sights set on the future, he is eagerly preparing for a successful upcoming school year.”

Chase Shipman, the owner of Vasser’s Mini-Mart in Selma, posted on social media that he was there and “tried to stop it and realized that I could not, so I tried to get away,” The Selma Times-Journal reported .

“I have a business to run and represent and no charges were filed against me because I was not involved,” he wrote, according to that report.

The Times-Journal reported that some commenters disputed his account.

A 67-year-old man on Monday “The Think Tank” with Chris Coleman on V 99.5 in Birmingham he was onboard the riverboat as part of a class reunion from Robert C. Hatch High School in Uniontown.

The man, who did not give his name, said the incident “ made me proud of Black people ... that privilege thing is over with.”

Screengrab from Montgomery riverfront brawl.

“There’s no greater love than a man who gives his life for another man,” he told Coleman. “Everybody out there was willing to give their life for that man. It was no joke.”

Anwar Price, a 42-year-old Montgomery resident, was with his 14-year-old daughter, watching a back-to-school event along the Montgomery riverside, when he saw the melee develop and then explode.

Price said he never felt endangered during the 20 minutes he spent among the flying fists and swinging chairs.

“There was no harm done to me,” he said. “Once I got in there, in the middle of everything, they saw I wasn’t trying to bring that type of energy.”

“A lot of people are trying to promote this as about racism, and I don’t really think this was a racism thing ,” said Price, who is Black.

“Honestly, I think this was just a matter of doing the right thing versus doing the wrong thing,” Price said. “It was because of a series of bad choices.”

What happens next?

“Justice will be served. This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred,” Mayor Steven Reed said on Sunday.

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“But as in regards to public safety here in Montgomery, it’s always at the forefront of our mind and we appreciate everything that the community has done to help us in this situation as they do with incidents each and every day.”

A reporter asked Reed if he believes the incident was racially motivated.

“We can’t confirm or deny it at this time,” Reed said. “We’re investigating all angles of this and we’re talking to people who were there as we speak.”

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Four Charged With Assault After Alabama Riverfront Brawl

Three men and a woman turned themselves in to the Montgomery police this week after an attack on a Black boat captain that garnered heavy backlash on social media.

By Remy Tumin

Four people have turned themselves in to the police and have been charged with assault in connection with a brawl that broke out along the waterfront in Montgomery, Ala., last weekend, officials said, as the investigation into the racially charged melee continues .

The arrests came days after a group of white boaters attacked a Black riverboat cruise captain on Saturday. Warrants for three of the boaters were issued on Tuesday, and the Montgomery police had asked them during a news conference to come forward.

Allen Todd, 23, and Zachery Shipman, 25, were in custody of the Montgomery police as of Wednesday, the police said, and each was charged with one count of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. A third man, Richard Roberts, 48, turned himself in on Tuesday and was charged with two counts of third-degree assault. All three have posted bail, officials said.

On Thursday, Mary Todd, 21, turned herself in and was also charged with third degree assault, the police said. She was being held for 12 hours, according to court records.

The misdemeanor assault is penalized by a fine of up to $6,000 and up to one year in jail. The four accused, all of whom are white, are scheduled for arraignment on Sept. 1.

The Montgomery police said on Thursday that no other charges had been levied, but more could come. While the fight appeared to be largely down racial lines, the police would not pursue hate crime charges, they said. They also will not pursue charges of inciting a riot.

The weekend’s violent scene was captured on video by several bystanders and drew a large social media response, including cartoons , TikTok videos , a song and re-enactments . Many of the videos, which offer multiple angles and vantage points of the incident, are now a part of the police investigation, said Chief Darryl J. Albert of the Montgomery Police.

The altercation began at the city’s popular Riverfront Park after a pontoon boat docked in a space designated for the Harriott II, a riverboat cruise that was returning from a trip up the Alabama River. For 45 minutes, the captain of the Harriott II instructed the pontoon boat via the public announcement system to move out of the way, but to no avail. Instead, the white boaters responded with “gestures, curse words and taunting,” Chief Albert said at a news conference on Tuesday.

At that point, Dameion Pickett, a co-captain of the Harriott, was given a ride on a small boat to the dock so he could talk to the pontoon owners. When Mr. Pickett, who is Black, tried to move the pontoon, the owners of the boat confronted and attacked him. Members of the Harriott’s crew and bystanders came to Mr. Pickett’s defense, and a melee broke out. One man was seen on video wielding a folding chair to use against the boaters.

Mr. Pickett and an unnamed 16-year-old male, who had taken Mr. Pickett to the dock, were injured in the brawl.

The dock’s history has become a part of the broader conversation around the fight and its racial overtones: The altercation occurred at the same dock where enslaved Africans arrived by steamboat to be sold in the center of town.

An earlier version of this article, relying on information provided by the Montgomery Police Department, misspelled the given names of two people. The boat co-captain is Dameion Pickett, not Damien; and a person charged is Zachery Shipman, not Zachary.

How we handle corrections

Remy Tumin is a reporter for The Times covering breaking news and other topics. More about Remy Tumin

Watch CBS News

More arrest warrants could be issued after shocking video shows Montgomery, Alabama, riverfront brawl

By Jericka Duncan , Analisa Novak

Updated on: August 8, 2023 / 3:35 PM EDT / CBS News

Four arrest warrants have been issued in connection with a riverfront brawl in Alabama, with the potential for more to be issued pending a comprehensive review, according to Maj. Saba Coleman of the Montgomery Police Department. 

Shocking video captured the tumultuous scene that unfolded Saturday as what appeared to be a simple disagreement escalated into a violent clash in Montgomery. The incident, which unfolded at the Harriott II Riverboat docking area, involved a group of White people pummeling a Black riverboat worker, an exchange that sparked a massive fight. The incident has since  gone viral  and ignited discussions about race.

The suspects have been identified as Richard Roberts, a White male, 48, with two warrants pending; Allen Todd, a White male, 23, with one warrant pending; and Zachery Shipman, a White male, 25, with one warrant pending. One suspect has turned himself into the police, and the two others "are expected to follow," said Montgomery Police Chief Darryl J. Albert during a Tuesday afternoon news conference. 

He identified the victims in the case as co-captain Dameion Pickett and a 16-year-old juvenile, who both were struck by people from the private boat.

In a series of videos, Christa Owens recorded the tense moments that transpired when a disagreement began over docking space.

Owens, who was aboard the Harriott II Riverboat, said the boat had just completed a dinner cruise and was attempting to dock, only to find a small pontoon boat occupying the designated spot.  

"There were a few guys and a couple of women that were getting off of the boat and seemingly ignoring the captain's request to move," she said. 

A riverboat crew member stepped in and managed to move the pontoon boat several feet, clearing the way for the riverboat to dock, but was then confronted, which quickly led to a physical altercation between the riverboat worker and an irate, shirtless man.  

Owens said the crew member was simply trying to maintain order. 

"Our crewman was trying to explain over and over and over again, you know, we asked you to move so we can fit," she said. 

As the tension escalated, a group of pontoon boat passengers confronted the riverboat crew member, ultimately leading to a violent fight. 

"It felt a little tense, but then you saw punches and our crewman who is just trying to do his job is getting punched by these guys who are very angry," Owens said.  

Amid the chaos, a separate video showed other riverboat passengers rushing to the scene, some even swimming, in an attempt to assist the outnumbered crew member. At one point, a man   is seen picking up a white chair and hitting multiple people with it, including a woman. Law enforcement eventually intervened to stop the altercation and detain several individuals. 

Police said Tuesday they have identified the man with the chair as Reggie Green, 42, and asked him to contact them.

Mayor Steven Reed of Montgomery said in a statement that police swiftly apprehended "multiple reckless individuals involved in attacking a man who was carrying out his job." 

"This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred. As our police department investigates these intolerable actions, we should not become desensitized to violence of any kind in our community. Those who choose violence will be held accountable by our criminal justice system," Reed said.

Jericka Duncan is a national correspondent and the anchor for Sunday's edition of the "CBS Weekend News." Duncan is an Emmy-nominated journalist who has received several awards for her reporting, including two National Edward R. Murrow Awards and honors from the Associated Press and the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, which named her Journalist of the Year in 2012.

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4 warrants issued after brawl breaks out at Riverfront Park in Montgomery, Alabama

After several people were detained Saturday night after a fight broke out on a dock in Alabama, police have issued four warrants for people involved as of Monday morning, authorities said.

"There’s a possibility more will follow after the review of additional video," the Montgomery Police Department said in a statement sent to USA TODAY.

Montgomery police responded to a disturbance at Riverfront Park in Montgomery, Alabama, around 7 p.m. after a large group of people were fighting, police said. Several people were detained and charges were pending.

In a statement Sunday night, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said “warrants have been signed and justice will be served.”

“Last night, the Montgomery Police Department acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job,” Reed said in the statement. “Those who choose violent actions will be held accountable by our criminal justice system.”

Videos of fights at Montgomery's Riverfront Park spread on social media

A video of the incident, which was shared Sunday on social media, shows an employee arguing with several people about a pontoon boat blocking the dock space needed to park a riverboat, the Montgomery Advertiser reported , part of the USA TODAY Network.

The argument escalated when a man rushed the employee and punched him. The two men began fighting when other men attacked the employee.

After the fight, a separate video shows a group of people approaching the pontoon boat, and more fighting broke out.

Police arrived shortly and they began taking people into custody. Authorities have not released the names of the people detained. 

Contributing: Shannon Heupel, Montgomery Advertiser

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Montgomery Brawl’s 16-Year-Old Swimmer Hailed As ‘Black Aquaman’ Says He Did What He ‘Was Taught To Do’

The brawl at the Montgomery Riverfront has quickly become a moment etched in Black history . As the video made its way around social media, viewers picked their favorite moment and member of the retaliation.

One of the participants that quickly became a standout was the fearless individual that swam across the river, jumped onto the dock and promptly began throwing punches at the protection of the security guard.

While Black Twitter fondly named him “JaMichael Phelps,” the aqua man was later revealed as a 16-year-old named “Aaren.”

Viewers searched for more on the identity of the unknown swimmer . Aaren’s family took understandable precautions to protect him from possible public scrutiny.

The family obtained a publicist by the name of Makina LaShea. She released a statement expressing that the family appreciated how people had “come together to celebrate the remarkable act of bravery and compassion” demonstrated by the young hero.

“In the face of adversity, Aaren selflessly came to the rescue of a fellow colleague, showcasing courage beyond his years,” the statement read. “We are immensely proud of his actions and the values he exemplifies, standing as an inspiration to us all.”

“The overwhelming love and support pouring in from all corners of the state and surrounding areas have deeply touched Aaren,” it continued. “Your kindness and encouragement have shown him the power of unity and the warmth of a caring community.”

The representative later included a comment from the teen shedding light on why he did what he did.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been sending me money to help me get new boots,” he said. “I promise I don’t need anymore than I already have. Thank you, everyone, for your support. The only thing I did was what I was taught to do.”

Viewers acknowledged the young man’s courage with various social memes.

“Sixteen in the clip and one in the hoolllee/ Nate Dogg swimming ‘cross a river to make some bodies turn cooolldddd…” pic.twitter.com/SwLtWNSzk7 — Roy Wood Jr aka Snack Turner (@roywoodjr) August 6, 2023

Aquamayne, Michael B. Phelps, and Scuba Gooding Jr. #riverboatbrawl pic.twitter.com/khdJmIx0E8 — Reel Moments 🎞 (@reelmomentsAI) August 7, 2023

He also received a list of superhero aliases, with “Shaquille O’Gills” taking the top spot.

Just seen a tweet with “Sea Murda” and that is easily the best 🤣 https://t.co/jda3OEExXr — Something Profound and Witty (@Parkour_Lewis) August 7, 2023

LaShae later released a statement from Aaren’s parents clarifying that they were not attempting to exploit or capitalize on their son’s newfound celebrity.

As Blavity previously reported, the brawl is under investigation as authorities review multiple videos from the public and surveillance footage from the park.

As of Sunday, four active warrants were issued for members involved in the fight and charges are pending.

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Three white men facing charges in Alabama riverboat brawl are identified as police share detailed account

The montgomery police chief said that the conflict started between a pontoon boat owner and a co-captain of the harriott ii riverboat, article bookmarked.

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Police in Montgomery, Alabama, have unveiled new details of a waterfront brawl captured on stunning viral video over the weekend - including the names of three white men currently facing charges.

Mongtomery Police Chief Darryl Albert addressed the incident at a press conference on Tuesday, confirming it all began with a private pontoon boat blocking a tourist cruise ship.

Chief Albert said that the Harriott II cruise ship, which takes passengers for 2-hour rides along the Alabama River, had 227 passengers on board when it tried to dock in its designated space, when it noticed a pontoon boat was docked there.

Damian Pickett, the Harriott’s co-captain, waited for 40 to 45 minutes for the boat to move. A smaller boat picked up Mr Pickett and brought him to the pier to try to have a conversation with the pontoon boat owner so that he could park the large vessel in its spot.

That’s when the co-captain “was attacked by several members of the private boat” after they “confronted him in a hostile manner,” the police chief said. Mr Pickett “was doing his job,” he added. The videos of the incident that ensued have now gone viral.

A video posted on Twitter by Alabama Political Reporter’s Josh Moon shows a white man coming up the co-captain and punching him. More people are then seen piling on the alleged dock worker, hitting and punching him.

Mr Moon posted subsequent footage of even more people attacking each other. “Here’s part of what happened after the riverboat docked and the other workers and people on the boat were able to get to the fight,” the journalist wrote. The footage captured one man grabbing a foldable chair and then hitting people over the head with it.

The police said that in addition to Mr Pickett, an employee on the smaller vessel that transported him to the dock, a 16-year-old white male, was “assaulted by members of the pontoon boat.”

On the night of the incident, police detained 13 individuals; the interviews lasted several hours, but all parties involved were released.

Now, three people have warrants out for arrest. Richard Roberts, a 48-year-old white male has two warrants for assault, Allen Todd, a 23-year-old white male has one warrant for assault, and Zachary Shipman, a 25-year-old white male, also has one warrant for assault.

All individuals with warrants were members of the pontoon boat, the police chief said. The mayor said they are not residents of Montgomery, Alabama.

The police chief said one person is in custody with the Selma Police Department, and two still have to turn themselves in within the hour, but he did not identify who had already been detained.

Chief Albert also called for Reggie Gray, who is seen “wielding that folding chair” in videos, to contact police for further interviews.

The police chief added that the Montgomery Police Department is working with the state police agency, DA’s office and local FBI office; he said ”more charges are likely” as the investigation is ongoing.

He added that the police “examined whether there was enough to file hate crime charges” but these are the applicable charges with the footage they have so far. Chief Albert encouraged people to keep sending videos of the incident to the Montgomery Police Department.

“This is not indicative of who we are as a city. We are much better than that,” the police chief added. He called the incident “disturbing.”

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed released a statement following the brawl, saying that officers detained “several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job”. He continued, “This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred. As our police department investigates these intolerable actions, we should not become desensitized to violence of any kind in our community. Those who choose violent actions will be held accountable by our criminal justice system.”

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Mayor vows justice after massive brawl breaks out on Alabama riverfront

Multiple video clips of a brawl on the riverfront in Montgomery, Alabama, went viral on social media Sunday night, and the mayor reacted with a vow that justice would prevail.

Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed said in a statement Sunday that several people involved in the fighting Saturday evening have been detained.

"Justice will be served," he said.

NBC affiliate WSFA of Montgomery reported that four arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the altercation.

It appears to show brawling that split combatants along racial lines. The fighting appeared to follow a riverboat's attempt to dock where a pontoon boat was moored.

A man who was apparently from the riverboat walked to the pontoon and exchanged words with someone, precipitating an all-out brawl between people associated with each of the watercraft.

Reed indicated that the man from the riverboat was attacked and that those who committed violence against him would face the justice system.

"The Montgomery Police Department acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job," he said.

Police told WSFA that the fight was reported at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The city's Riverfront along the Alabama River is a summertime draw that features the riverboat, an amphitheater, a stadium and a park, among other attractions.

Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 

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Boaters plead guilty in riverfront brawl; charge dismissed against riverboat co-captain

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Two white boaters on Friday pleaded guilty to harassment charges in connection with an Alabama riverfront braw l that drew national attention.

The two men pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge as part of a plea deal, according to court records. The August riverfront melee in Montgomery drew national attention after bystanders filmed white boaters hitting a Black riverboat co-captain and then crew members and bystanders rushing to his defense. Video of the fight was shared widely online, sparking countless memes and parodies.

A judge on Thursday also dismissed an assault charge filed by one of the white boaters against the riverboat co-captain. The Montgomery Police Department said the co-captain was a victim in the assaults.

Montgomery police said the brawl began when the white boaters refused to move their pontoon boat so the city-owned Harriott II riverboat could dock in its designated space. The boat’s co-captain said he was attacked after moving the pontoon boat a few feet to make way for the riverboat.

The guilty pleas concluded the last of the criminal cases brought against four white boaters in connection with the melee. The two men were ordered to complete an anger management class and perform community service. They will not serve any jail time unless they violate probation terms.

One white boater previously pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to serve 32 days in jail. Another white boater pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment. A Black man, who was filmed swinging a folding chair during the brawl, is charged with disorderly conduct and will go to court next week.

'Just in shock': Dock worker assaulted in Montgomery brawl speaks out in 'GMA' exclusive

Dameion Pickett spoke out in an interview with "GMA" co-anchor Robin Roberts.

Nearly two months after a brawl at Riverfront Park in Montgomery, Alabama , went viral, Dameion Pickett, a dock worker who was at the center of the melee after he was assaulted by a group of boaters, spoke out about the incident in an exclusive interview with "Good Morning America."

Pickett, who is the lead deckhand of the Harriot II, reflected on what led up to the altercation and told "GMA" co-anchor Robin Roberts that he was just "just doing my job" and was "just in shock" when he was violently attacked.

"I didn't expect this to happen at work today," Pickett said. "I was just expecting another peaceful, nice cruise."

Arrest warrants issued after boaters attack dock employee at Montgomery riverbank

According to Pickett, as the Harriott II was ending a dinner cruise and getting ready to dock, a private pontoon boat was illegally parked in its place, preventing the riverboat from docking safely.

"We could have docked, but we would end up hitting a couple of those boats and be responsible for it," Pickett said.

According to Pickett and witnesses aboard the Harriett II who spoke with ABC News, crew members made several attempts to ask the owner of the pontoon boat to move it, but their calls were ignored.

"Everybody was yelling, "Could y'all move y'all boat?" Pickett said.

It was then that Pickett said he got off the riverboat "by the captain's orders" and went to move the pontoon boat himself.

"Really just moved it about one, two, four-- four steps to the right, that's it," he said.

"I was, like, 'I'm just doing my job … After we dock, we don't mind y'all staying there but not at this time while we're trying to dock,'" he added.

Moments after Pickett moved the boat, videos show that he was confronted and punched by a man and soon after, others attacked Pickett and were later identified by police as a boat owner and his family.

Pickett said that after he was assaulted, he had to defend himself.

"This man just put his hand on me. I was, like … it's my job, but I'm still defending myself at the same time. So when he touched me, I was, like, 'It's on,'" Pickett said.

According to videos captured by bystanders and obtained by ABC News, the incident led to a massive brawl that started between the individuals who attacked Pickett, all of whom were white, prompting several Black eyewitnesses to join a fight in an apparent attempt to defend Pickett, including a viral video of a teenager later identified as Aaren Hamilton-Rudolph swimming to the dock to defend him.

Hamilton-Rudolph, a 16-year-old who was only on his second week on the job, reflected on what made him swim to Pickett's defense in an interview with "GMA."

"Everybody was just recording. No one helped," Hamilton-Rudolph said. "So I couldn't just watch and sit around and just let him get beat on while everybody else is just recording and watching."

Roshein "RahRah" Carlton, Pickett's coworker and friend, also rushed to his defense.

"It's our duty as-- as our coworker, as a team, to go and aid and assist him," Carlton told "GMA."

Pickett said that "some nasty words" were directed at him when he got attacked, while Carlton claimed that he heard "a lot of racial slurs" being used during the incident.

The incident was investigated by the Montgomery Police Department, leading to misdemeanor assault charges against four white individuals, all of whom are now out on bond and set to appear in court for a hearing this week.

Montgomery Police Department Chief Darryl Albert identified Pickett and an unnamed 16-year-old white male who was allegedly struck by the owners and operators of the private boat as victims in this case during a press conference on Aug. 7.

The incident led to charges against five individuals.

Alabama riverfront melee: 5th suspect turns himself in, police say

Richard Roberts was charged with two counts of assault in the third degree, court records show. Meanwhile, Allen Todd, Zachary Shipman and Mary Todd were all charged with assault in the third degree. All have pleaded not guilty .

ABC News has attempted to reach out to the suspects and their attorneys, but requests for comment were not returned.

A fifth arrest was made days later when Reggie Ray, a Black man who was seen attacking someone with a beach chair in a viral video, was charged with disorderly conduct. He also pleaded not guilty.

Ray's attorney, Lee Merritt, told ABC News that his client had a "limited role" in the brawl and was "involuntarily roped into the disorderly conduct initiated by a violent white mob."

Asked if there's any evidence of a hate crime, Albert said that police "looked at every avenue" and left "no stone unturned" but "were unable to present any insight in a riot or racial racially biased charges at this time."

A spokesperson for the Montgomery Police Department told ABC News on Friday that there are no additional updates to share regarding the investigation.

Pickett told Roberts that all he wanted to do was make sure that the Harriott II, which was carrying more than 200 passengers at the time, was able to dock safely.

"I had a responsibility," he said. "I was still trying to get that boat in while the fight was still going on. I'm still telling the captain, 'We gotta get these folks here safely to this dock.'"

Asked how he was doing after the incident, Pickett said, "I'm just a little-- a little sore, little bumps and bruises here and there. But I'm here by the grace of God."

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Montgomery river brawl witness reveals moment she knew 'all hell was gonna break loose'

A woman who saw the massive boat brawl unfold before her eyes said she felt 'all hell was gonna break loose' once the larger boat involved reached the dock at Riverfront Park in Montgomery, Alabama

• 18:22, 8 Aug 2023
• Updated 18:52, 8 Aug 2023

A witness described the chaotic scenes during the massive boat brawl that broke out Saturday saying she could see that "all hell was gonna break loose."

A massive brawl broke out at the Riverfront Park in Montgomery, Alabama, reportedly stemming from an argument about a boat blocking another vessel's mooring space. Multiple videos from various angles posted on social media showing the brawl have gone viral and garnered million of views.

The initial scuffle happened between the dock guard and white boaters, with multiple members of the group beating on the man as onlookers watched in horror. Footage even showed one teen swimming across the river to get to the man.

The altercation escalated with people being thrown into the water , chairs smashed over heads, and individuals beaten on the ground. Police were called and several people were detained, with charges pending.

The witness, Lauren Spivey, described the initial incident that sparked the brawl. She said a small boat was blocking a larger riverboat from docking , and the Black employee approached the small boat to ask them to move.

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Then, a white man from the small boat ran over, leading to a heated argument. The situation escalated when the employee told the man to move the boat to make room for the larger riverboat.

She told CNN that the guests on the riverboat had been waiting for "like 30 to 45 minutes and they did not want to touch these people’s boat, but nobody came forward."

The witness stated that the altercation intensified as the white man pushed the employee and threw a punch, followed by others from the small boat attacking the worker while he was on the ground.

Ms Spivey also mentioned her surprise at the "entitlement" shown by the small boat group, as they assaulted the worker and returned to their boat without trying to leave.

She said: "They got back on their little boats down there like nothing happened, like nothing happened. And the whole time the Harriott is still slowly coming in sideways so they can dock."

The riverboat eventually docked, leading to a second brawl between its workers and those on the small boat. Videos showed punches, chair attacks, and people falling into the water. Ms Spivey said: "I knew once that boat hit that dock … all hell was gonna break loose."

The fight escalated along the dock, with punches thrown and even someone knocked into the water. A separate video captured another violent incident nearby, where a man and a woman, both apparently White, were attacked by unknown individuals, including the use of a folding chair. Police eventually intervened to quell the disturbances.

Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed said that justice would be served and indicated that those who attacked a riverboat employee would face the justice system. The incident raised questions about racial factors due to the groups involved, but it remains unclear if the fight was racially motivated.

Montgomery, known for its historic civil rights events, has seen previous brawls going viral on social media. A similar incident involving women was captured at a Las Vegas hotel earlier, with a chaotic fight breaking out on the casino floor.

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Riverboat cruises resume through downtown St. Louis as Mississippi River drops

S T. LOUIS, Mo. - The riverboat cruises at the St. Louis Arch returned to the water Friday morning, clear to navigate the Mississippi River for the first time this week.

The boats have been docked for several days following flooding on the river, which crested earlier in the week. The flooded waterway carried chunks of debris, with dangerously swift currents in the segment that runs through downtown St. Louis.

But Amber Barbeau, the director of the cruises, said that the river has since dropped below the dangerous threshold and much of the debris has been flushed out of the area.

“We’re excited to be cruising again,” Barbeau said. “The river conditions were finally met for us to cruise. It fell below thirty feet and the debris has gone down.”

Lt. Eric Kiehlmeier with the US Coast Guard said that officials would likely reopen those sections in the next few days, depending on water conditions.

Kiehlmeier cautioned, however, that parts of the river would still require caution with high water and fast-moving currents.

“Just because we’re not in a high water phase doesn’t mean there’s no debris or the current isn’t strong. We recommend using the buddy system out on the river,” he said.

He said the Coast Guard would continue updating conditions over the next few days .

On Friday night the Coast Guard said they are no longer prohibiting recreational boating in these pools and zones, but strongly discourages it.

“Mariners are advised to use extreme caution when navigating these waters,” the Coast Guard said. “Until water levels return to normal, please prioritize safety and avoid unnecessary travel.”