The man accused of using a folding chair as a weapon during the Saturday incident on the riverfront has been taken into custody by Montgomery police.
Capt. Jarrett Williams stated in an email that Reggie Gray, 42, turned himself in on Friday and that police have charged him with disorderly behaviour.
Gray is currently detained in Montgomery.
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According to the Montgomery Police Department, one white man who was trying to break up the fight on Saturday has been exonerated of all criminal charges in connection with the incident on the riverside.
To establish the man’s innocence, officers watched films of the fights and spoke with co-captain Dameion Pickett, who was initially attacked. The release did not give the man’s name.
“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.”
