Bodycam footage captured the moment a group of six people squared up with Rhode Island police, with one woman kicking an officer in the groin while another guest was knocked unconscious – all during a wedding celebration.
Newport Police officers were called to The Landing, a seafood restaurant on Bowen’s Wharf, around 1am Sunday.
They were responding to a call about a man who had reportedly tried to punch an employee and pushed another when he was denied entry as an ‘unwanted party.’
The man was identified as 44-year-old David Onik of Barrington, Rhode Island. As police questioned David, his friends began crowding around the officers and were repeatedly told to back away.
When they refused to listen, the cops tried to place Rachael Onik, 41, under arrest but she tripped and toppled to the ground.
This triggered the group of friends to lunge at the officers, launching an all-out brawl where one woman repeatedly reached for an officer’s gun.
Bodycam footage captured the moment a group of six people squared up with Rhode Island police during a wedding celebration
Police in Newport, Rhode Island, were responding to a call about a man who had reportedly tried to punch an employee and pushed another when he was denied entry as an ‘unwanted party’
Newport Police Sergeant Stephen Carrig, who was reportedly assaulted amid the commotion, gave a written account of what transpired.
He said he saw colleagues Officer Cole speaking with staff and Officer White standing by David Onik.
Cole told him David had pushed an employee at the Landing and attempted to punch another.
It was then David began pointing ‘aggressively’ at the staff members, prompting Carrig to walk over and handcuff him. Carrig told Rachael and Alexandra Flaherty, 31, to back up and told David that he was detained.
While Carrig was speaking with Cole to determine if any of the employees wanted to press charges, Rachael walked over to David and began talking to him. David’s sister-in-law joined her. Carrig told the women once again to back up.
Rachael retreated but tried moments later to speak to David again. Carrig said she was preventing them from ‘investigating the incident inside The Landing.’
He grasped Rachael’s right upper arm and began to move her away from David to arrest her. As he pulled her away, she tripped and fell on uneven ground.
‘I was immediately rushed by a blonde female wearing a white dress and black jacket who pushed me,’ Carrig wrote in the report. ‘I pushed her back out of the way to create distance.’
He grabbed the woman’s arm and walked her over to the wall of a nearby building where he prepared to arrest her. He said several people then began shoving him from behind.
When he turned to push them away, he was attacked by Alexandra, who is seen on-video in an orange dress aiming a kick at his groin. Carrig retaliated by slapping Alexandra in the face.
Newport Mayor Xaykham Khamsyvoravong said the city was investigating officers’ ‘use of force’ in the incident
Most of the group arrested is due in court on September 13
She was knocked unconscious, according to other officers, and was later taken to the hospital to treat injuries on her jaw, head and elbows.
Carrig said he was then struck in the face, causing him to fall and smash the back of his head against the ground.
He was reportedly attacked by 30-year-old Robert Nash of Marshfield, MA.
Officers Cole and White rushed at Nash to handcuff him. Before they could do so, Cole wrote in his own statement, he felt somebody grabbing at his gun. He reflexively turned and threw a punch which connected with Rachel’s right jaw. She was knocked unconscious.
Carrig can be seen falling to the ground after Nash hits him in the bodycam footage. The other cops rush to his aid.
‘My vision became extremely blurry to the point I could not focus on anything or even see people,’ he wrote. ‘I was unable to tell which way was up or down for several seconds leaving me completely defenseless.’
When the officer was able to climb to his feet, he called for additional units.
He pulled Alexandra to the wall to arrest her but Olivia Costello, 20, placed herself in the way. Another officer took ahold of Alexandra while Carrig handcuffed Olivia.
‘Blood was filling in my mouth and dripping off of my nose,’ Carrig wrote. He complained of throbbing pain and was later taken to Newport Hospital.
The Landing, a seafood restaurant on Bowen’s Wharf, was the scene of the brawl around 1am Sunday
Newport Police Sergeant Stephen Carrig, who was reportedly assaulted amid the commotion, gave a written account of what transpired
The group is due in court on September 13, with the exception of 28-year-old Kylie Swain. She was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct and is scheduled to appear in court at the end of the month.
Of the remaining guests, David Onik was charged with disorderly conduct and Rachael Onik with two counts of multiple assault or battery, one count of resisting arrest, one count of obstructing an officer in the execution of duty, and one count of disorderly conduct.
Alexandra Flaherty, who was caught kicking Carrig in the groin, faces a string of charges including assault of police officers and other officers, simple assault or battery, resisting arrest, obstructing an officer in the execution of duty, and disorderly conduct.
Robert Nash, who punched Carrig in the nose, is charged with assault of police officers and other officials, simple assault or battery, resisting arrest, obstructing an officer in the execution of duty, and disorderly conduct.
Olivia Costello faces faces four charges: simple assault or battery, resisting arrest, obstructing an officer in the execution of duty, and disorderly conduct.
Newport Mayor Xaykham Khamsyvoravong said the city was investigating officers’ ‘use of force’ in the incident.
‘Given the fact that injuries were sustained, the City is carefully collecting and reviewing the information,’ he said.