Caught on camera: Video shows officer punch woman in jaw after she appears to kick him in groin
Bodycam footage from The Newport Police Department shows a scene involving officers and six people from a wedding party outside a Rhode Island restaurant on Sunday, Spet. 10, 2023. (Video: Newport Police Department)
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NEWPORT, R.I. (WJAR) — Multiple people who were part of a wedding party were arrested following an incident in Rhode Island that included the assault of an officer.
Newly released police body-cam video showed the chaotic confrontation between Newport officers and wedding party members early Sunday morning. Police said the incident happened along Bowen’s Wharf.0.25×0.5xnormal1.5x2x
Bodycam footage from The Newport Police Department shows a brawl involving at least one officer and six people from a wedding party outside a Rhode Island restaurant on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023. (Video: Newport Police Department)
According to aNewport Police Department report obtained by WJAR, it started when security at The Landing restaurant denied entry to David Onik, of Barrington, after 1 a.m. because they were no longer letting people inside.
This upset Onik, the report said, and he allegedly pushed an employee. When restaurant security stepped in, the report said Onik allegedly punched a security guard.
Onik’s friends and family led him away, but the police wanted to talk.
While officers were speaking with him, Onik’s wife Rachel, kept interrupting.
The report said when an officer tried lead her away, Rachel “tripped on cobblestone,” which caused multiple women to get in the officer’s face.
Shortly after, the police report said Alexandra Flaherty, of Marshfield, Massachusetts, allegedly kicked the officer near his groin before he tried to restrain her.
Bodycam footage from The Newport Police Department shows a scene involving officers and six people from a wedding party outside a Rhode Island restaurant on Sunday, Spet. 10, 2023. (Video: Newport Police Department)
Moments later, Robert Nash, also of Marshfield, hit the officer in the face, according to the report.
Two officers rushed in to get Nash off the downed cop, at which a separate officer said they felt, “somebody grabbing and pulling on my firearm,” the report stated.
That’s when the officer turned around and punched Rachel in the jaw. Police said she was trying to grab the officer’s gun.
The report said Rachel was knocked unconscious, but eventually recovered.
Initially, police told WJARfive people were charged, but the media outlet later learned a sixth person is also facing charges.
WJAR spoke exclusively to the chief, minutes after the video was released.
“Assault on our officers is not something we tolerate here in Newport,” Chief Ryan Duffy said.
Five people are due in court on Wednesday. The sixth person will appear in court later this month.
The following includes information about five of the six arrests, as well as the charges:
Alexandra Flaherty, of Marshfield, Mass.
- Assault of police officers and other officials
- Simple assault or battery
- Resisting legal or illegal arrest
- Obstructing officer in execution of duty
- Disorderly conduct
Olivia Costello, of Milton, Mass.
- Simple assault or battery
- Resisting legal or illegal arrest
- Obstructing officer in execution of duty
- Disorderly conduct
David Onik, of Barrington, R.I.
- Disorderly conduct
Robert Nash, of Marshfield, Mass.
- Assault of police officers and other officials
- Simple assault or battery
- Resisting legal or illegal arrest
- Obstructing officer in execution of duty
- Disorderly conduct
Rachael Onik, of Barrington, R.I.
- Simple assault or battery
- Simple assault or battery
- Resisting legal or illegal arrest
- Obstructing officer in execution of duty
- Disorderly conduct
Unhinged wedding party turns into all-out brawl with cops in wild video
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Published Sep. 12, 2023, 2:16 p.m. ET181
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Six people were busted when a Rhode Island wedding party turned into a wild brawl with cops — with bodycam footage showing a woman repeatedly kicking one officer in the groin while another guest allegedly grabbed for a gun.
Newport police officers arrived at The Landing restaurant in Bowen’s Wharf around 1 a.m. Sunday after a call about a disorderly party, according to a police report shared online.
Security staff told police that David Onik, 44, had allegedly tried to punch an employee and shoved another when he was denied entry as an “unwanted party.”
As police questioned Onik, his friends began surrounding the officers, who repeatedly told them to back away before they moved to arrest his wife, Rachael Onik, 41, for failing to follow instructions.
After Onik’s wife tripped and fell during the arrest, the group of friends swarmed the officers, with Alexandra Flaherty, 31, seen in an orange dress kicking Sgt. Stephen Carrig in the groin, the cop wrote in the report.
The cop then immediately swings at Flaherty with a slap, with an all-out brawl erupting as the officers try to separate and arrest the group.
In the middle of the brawl, Robert Nash, 30, landed a blow on Carrig, causing him to fall over and suffer a bloody nose, the officer said in the report.
As the cops rushed Nash and handcuffed him, Flaherty could be seen again trying to kick officers in the groin.
One of the suspects also allegedly tried to get hold of one officer’s gun, the police report said.
The cop tried to punch the suspect and ended up hitting Rachael in the jaw.
Rachael was knocked unconscious, and she and Carrig were taken to a nearby hospital, where they have since been released, WPRI reported.
Nash, Flaherty, Rachael and Olivia Costello, 20, all face assault charges, as well as charges for resisting arrest, obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct, police said.
Onik was charged with disorderly conduct, and the sixth individual, Kylie Swain, 28, was charged with assault and disorderly conduct.181
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All but Swain are due in court Wednesday for an arraignment hearing.
The reports did not detail what relationship the arrested people had with the wedding party, or if the brawl stopped the celebrations.
