Kitchen Fight At Shipyard: Meat Tenderizing Hammer Used As Weapon: Police Allege

NEWPORT, RI — When police responded to a fight in progress at the Newport Shipyard on Tuesday around 10:27 a.m., they found two men being held back at opposite ends of the parking lot. A shipyard employee was trying to restrain Jevoun Paul McKenzie, Jr., 18, of Newport, but just as officers arrived, he broke free and dashed toward a victim, whose father was trying to hold him back. Police stopped McKenzie and took him to the ground. Then they collected the evidence — a metal pot, a bloody dish towel, a butcher knife with a green handle, a meat tenderizing hammer and a two by four.

According to the arrest report, two kitchen employees at Belle's Cafe, on Washington Street, had tangled earlier at Rolling Green apartments. McKenzie allegedly threatened the victim, according to the victim's father. The father, who also is an employee, said his son asked the kitchen manager if they could work in separate areas that day; and although the manager agreed, McKenzie at some point went to the victim and hit him in the back with a meat tenderizing hammer.

The victim blocked him with a metal pot.

Then McKenzie allegedly took a butcher knife and left the kitchen. Outside, the father heard the sound of glass shattering. McKenzie, he alleges, took a two by four and bashed in his car windows. His son and McKenzie started fighting in the parking lot. They were separated, and then police arrived. They arrested McKenzie at 10:35 a.m. He was charged with two felony counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (a knife). He was also charged with two misdemeanors, Simple assault or battery and Vandalism, malicious injury to property.