Newport Man Arrested After Allegedly Trying to Fight Patrons Inside Celtica

NEWPORT, RI — Police arrested Clifton P. Brownell, 25, of Newport on Jan. 4 at 10 p.m. He was charged with disorderly conduct, simple assault and battery and vandalism, malicious injury to property.

According to the arrest report, officers responded to Long Wharf at 9:16 p.m. for a man who had passed out and might be the same male who allegedly had tried to fight several patrons inside Celtica earlier.

The kitchen manager at Celtica met police and said the man was sleeping on the stairs.

Police also spoke to the bartender who reported the man was "super jumpy" when he arrived, and she decided to swipe his card to verify he had any available money to pay for an order.

Although the officers initially went to check on his well-being, Brownell, according to police, became agitated and allegedly started to fight them. He was arrested at 10 p.m.

On the way to booking, police allege, he head butted one of the officers, and they had to "take him to ground."

Brownell allegedly screamed, "This is why people kill cops."