Black riverboat co-captain faces assault complaint filed by white boater in Alabama dock brawl

The Black co-captain of a riverboat in Montgomery, Alabama, has been accused of misdemeanor assault by a white boater involved in a riverfront brawl that went viral on social media.

The city of Montgomery has charged Dameion Pickett, co-captain of the Harriott II, with third-degree assault. The complainant in the case is Zachery Shipman, who is also facing a misdemeanor assault charge.

The complaint was filed Oct. 26, ahead of the man’s Nov. 16 trial on a charge of hitting and kicking the riverboat co-captain. Officials did not publicly announce the charge as they have with others charged after the brawl.

The incidentAug. 9 started when Pickett asked the operators of a private boat that was docked in its space to move. Dozens of cellphone videos showing Pickett being punched and kicked by several white assailants were recorded by passengers aboard the Harriott II riverboat – which was waiting to dock with 227 people on board for more than 40 minutes – as well as people on the shore.

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Richard Roberts and Mary Todd of Selma both pleaded guilty to charges related to the brawl in Montgomery municipal court. Cases are pending for three others including Shipman, Allen Todd and Reggie Ray, who is accused of hitting a woman with a folding chair.

Contributing: Associated Press

Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @gladlyalex.