Newport Police Log: Man Arrested After Fight Involving Frying Pan, Beer Bottle

Newport Man Arrested After Fight Involving Frying Pan, Beer Bottle

Dwight A. Williams, 33, of 20 Chapel Street Apt. 36 in Newport, was arrested around 6:22 p.m. Thursday on a charge of disorderly fighting.

Police were dispatched to the apartment complex around 6:12 p.m. after a 911 hang-up. Upon arrival, officers found Williams standing in the front of an apartment, with a broken beer bottle nearby on the sidewalk, as well as a backgammon game and two chairs. He was bleeding from his right hand.

Williams told police that he and his neighbor were playing backgammon on the front stoop when they got into a verbal argument and she splashed beer in his face, prompting him to return the gesture. Williams said the woman then went into her apartment and grabbed a frying pan, which she swung at him. He says he held his hand up for protection, but was holding the beer bottle, which got broken and subsequently cut his hand. No other visible injuries were apparent. William said a bald headed man was reportedly going to get his brother to get a gun, but that he didn't know who the bald man was and couldn't identify him amongst a crowd that had gathered outside the residence.

Police called for rescue for Williams, but he said he didn't want to press charges against his neighbor.

Police spoke to the 28-year-old Newport woman involved in the incident, who told them that Williams had hit her in the head with the beer bottle, and that she'd gone into the apartment to grab the frying pan for protection, but that she didn't hit him with it. Police observed a large bump on the left side of her head, along with two lacerations to the left lateral aspect of her upper neck. The woman also had glass in her hair and on her shoulders. She told police she also didn't want to press charges.

Gooseberry Caretaker Finds Message in a Bottle

The caretaker for Gooseberry Island reported to police Thursday that she'd found a message in a bottle on the beach property.

According to the police report, the 68-year-old Middletown woman told police that about a week ago she found a bottle with a note in it, but didn't think anything of it at the time and put it aside with other bottles she'd collected. On Wednesday evening, though, the woman says she opened the bottle and read the note, which allegedly said: "Dear God please help me. I'm too stupid to recognize yours signs-I want to be happy and live life again. Love Shawn."

The woman said she wanted to turn the note into police because she was concerned it may be a cry for help. The bottle also reportedly contained an acorn and what appeared to be a flattened penny.

The above reports detail arrests made by the Newport Police Department from Thursday, Sept. 9, through the early morning hours of Friday, Sept. 10.  Descriptions of all events are based solely on police officer reports provided to Patch.