Alabama boat brawl: Police release names of three white men who led to vicious riverside fights, accusing them of assault
Alabama boat brawl: Police release names of three white men who led to vicious riverside fights, accusing them of assault
- Police Chief Darryl Albert said the incident came after a private boat owner and his family seized the designated berth for the tourist craft
- Three suspects – all white males – have been charged with assault: Richard Roberts, 48, Alan Todd, 23, and Zachary Shipman, 35
- READ MORE: Harriot II Captain Jim Kittrell shared his story
Alabama authorities have released the names of some of the men involved in the now-infamous brawl that broke out Saturday night in Montgomery’s Riverfront Park.
Police Chief Darryl Albert said the incident occurred after a private boat owner and his family seized the designated dock for the Harriot, a tourist craft that carries passengers up and down the Alabama River.
Three suspects – all white males – have been charged with assault: Richard Roberts, 48, Alan Todd, 23, and Zachary “Chase” Shipman, 35.
They have been ordered to turn themselves in and only one is in custody. The other two will turn themselves in on Tuesday.
Police have also asked to speak to the man who was seen throwing the folding chair.
Three suspects – all white males – have been charged with assault: Richard Roberts, 48, Alan Todd, 23, and Zachary ‘Chase’ Shipman, 35 (far left)
Police Chief Darryl Albert said the incident came after a private boat owner and his family seized the designated berth for the Harriot, a tourist vessel
The captain of the Harriot waited more than 40 minutes while trying to contact the private boat owners through his PA system, Chief Albert said.
The private boat’s passengers reportedly responded only with obscene gestures and swear words.
The chief said violence broke out when a passenger from the private boat attacked the lead sailor.
He added that his department consulted with the FBI and declined to file hate crime charges.
The investigation is ongoing and more charges are likely
There were 227 passengers on board the ship when the incident happened.
Jim Kittrell, the captain of the Harriot II, claimed he and his crew had previous problems with the pleasure craft before violence broke out Saturday at Montgomery’s Riverfront
Albert asked the public to send any additional videos or evidence related to the brawl.
Earlier on Tuesday, Harriot II captain Jim Kittrell shared a similar story to the chief of police.
He claimed he and his crew had previous problems with the recreational craft before the violence broke out Saturday in Montgomery’s Riverfront Park.
Speaking on Alabama’s 93.1 radio station, he explained that he tried to dock the ship but was unable to because the pontoon boat had already taken the spot.
And it wasn’t the first time the crew had run into the boaters, who Kittrell says even stole one of their golf carts.
“One point I want to make, this wasn’t black and white,” he said.
“I had every male white crew member on the boat on the wharf.
“This was our crew angry about these idiots. This is the same group that comes every year. They are from Selma. And we’ve had issues with it in the past, but just like jokes.
“The same group was here a few years ago. We came back from a cruise and our golf cart was missing. …we finally found it in the lobby of the Hampton Inn. We watched the Hampton Inn video. We found out who did it and we had them come down. We were supposed to report it then, but the police talked us out of it.’