The Black dock worker seen on video of the massive brawl in Montgomery, Alabama, that took over social media during the summer has been charged, according to reports.
Court documents revealed that Harriott II Riverboat co-captain Dameion Pickett has been charged with third-degree assault in connection to the Aug. 5 melee, AL.com reported. Atlanta Black Star reached out to the Montgomery police officials for comment.
The charges come months after Pickett was attacked by a group of white boaters, both men and women, over a docking space dispute at Riverfront Park. Widely circulated video shows the moment things escalated between Pickett and the other men, who, at one point, collectively beat him while he was on the ground.
As the scuffle continued, Black men could be seen coming to the co-captain’s defense, including one teen who swam to the dock. In another angle of the physical altercation, a man hit someone with a white folding chair — which was the center of memes and other viral moments online. During an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America, Pickett said he was “in shock” with how things took a turn.
“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,” he said. “So when he touched me, I was, like, ‘It’s on.’ “
WATCH VIDEO OF THE BRAWL HERE.
Local officials swiftly condemned the attack, calling for those responsible to be held accountable, and several people were charged. Richard Roberts, 48, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor assault charges, and Mary Todd pleaded guilty to harassment.
Additionally, Allen Todd, 24, and Zachary Shipman, 26, were charged with third-degree assault. According to AL.com, Pickett was arrested based on Shipman’s complaint but identified as a victim in legal filings for the pontoon boaters.
Reports of the charges against the Black worker raised questions on social media.
“How do you get…
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