Shocking video shows the moment a wedding party in Rhode Island turned into a nasty brawl with police.
Officers in Newport were called to a restaurant in the early hours of Sunday morning after reports of disorderly conduct. According to a police report, a Newport officer was left with a broken nose after the incident at The Landing restaurant in Bowen’s Wharf.
Police were told that a member of the wedding party named as David Onik, 44, allegedly tried to punch an employee because he was designated an "unwanted party" and denied entry. The report led to Onik being questioned by police, during which his friends started to surround them. Police then moved to arrest Onik's wife Rachael Onik, 41, for not doing as she was told when police told the group to back away.
During the arrest, Rachael Onik was seen falling over, causing anger among the group. Sergeant Stephen Carrig said in a statement that he "grabbed onto Rachael's right upper arm and began to move her away from David so I could place her in handcuffs" and Rachael then "tripped and fell over the uneven brick and stone" as he moved her away.
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David Onik, 44, allegedly tried to punch an employee (Newport Police Dept)Bodycam footage shows a woman being pushed back by a hand, before she falls back onto the hard ground behind her.
This, Carrig said, caused him to be "rushed by a blonde female wearing a white dress and black jacket who pushed me," so Carrig attempted to restrain her. As this occurred "several people started pulling and pushing me from behind," Carrig claimed.
In the footage, a woman in an orange dress alleged to be Alexandra Flaherty, 31, can be seen kicking Carrig "in the groin."
A woman in an orange dress alleged to be Alexandra Flaherty, 31, can be seen kicking Carrig (Newport Police Dept)In Sergeant Carrig's statement, he said he responded by striking "Alexandra in the face with an open hand slap," in order to "distance."
Robert Nash, 30, is accused of landing a punch on Carrig that caused him to fall over. The officer says this left him with blurry vision and he was "unable to tell which way was up or down."
Rachael Onik was knocked unconscious and she was taken to hospital with Carrig. Both of them have since been released according to WPRI.
Rachael Onik was knocked unconscious and she was taken to hospital (Newport Police Dept)Nash, Flaherty, Rachael Onik and 20-year-old Olivia Costello all face assault charges along with charges for resisting arrest, obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct. Costello, Carrig said, "interfered by attempting to place her body between Alexandra" when he had pulled the latter to the wall and attempted to arrest her.
Each of the accused is due in court later this week.
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