Fourth person arrested in connection to viral Alabama riverfront brawl

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WBMA) — A woman is now in custody and charged with third-degree assault in connection to a brawl that broke out last weekend on a riverfront dock in Montgomery. There are now four people charged in the incident, including three men who turned themselves in earlier this week.

Mary Todd, 21, turned herself in Thursday. She is currently being held in city jail. Richard Roberts, 48, Zachery Shipman, 25, and Allen Todd, 23 are also facing third-degree assault charges.

The melee, where sides broke down along racial lines, began Saturday evening when a moored pontoon boat blocked the Harriott II riverboat from docking in its designated space along the city’s riverfront.

The riverboat co-captain took another vessel to shore to attempt to move the pontoon boat and was attacked by several white people from the private boat, police said. Video showed him being punched and shoved. Crew members and others later confronted the pontoon boat party, and more fighting broke out.

The video showed people being shoved, punched and kicked, and a Black man hitting a white person with a chair. At least one person was knocked into the water.

The three white boaters are so far the only people charged. Police have said more charges are likely as they continue to review video footage of the fight.

Video of the brawl circulated on social media and put a national spotlight on Alabama’s capital city.

“It was just absolutely unnecessary and uncalled for,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said Wednesday of the violence that transpired.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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