Information from WYSH Radio
Three people were arrested Saturday night during the “Fire on the Water” fireworks show at Sequoyah Marina on Norris Lake after a disturbance that ended with an Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputy deploying pepper spray on an allegedly angry crowd of onlookers.
The incident began at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday when a homeowner on Sequoyah Drive approached three deputies assigned to a special detail to monitor the festivities and told them that he was having a private engagement party on his property. He told the deputies that two men and a woman had come onto the property from the public area roped off for fireworks viewing, taken beer, threatened party guests, and refused to leave.
Deputies approached the trio—all of whom appeared to be intoxicated according to the incident report—and told them they had to leave.
When the group refused to depart, Deputy Shawn Bannach took Aaron Rodriguez-McCleary of Ashburn, Va., into custody. He resisted efforts to be taken into custody, according to the deputies.
His wife, Alyssa Bryant, had to be restrained after she allegedly began cursing at the deputies and trying to reach her husband. Deputy William Lucas reported that he warned Bryant to calm down or he would take her to the ground. She continued yelling and making moves toward her husband, and Lucas subdued her by using a “single arm bar” hold and she ended up on the ground in cuffs. She continued to struggle against the deputies and had to be physically picked up and carried to a waiting patrol car.
Deputies reported that when she was knocked to the ground, several people who gathered to watch what was happening attempted to “rush the deputies,” according to the report, at which time one of the deputies used pepper spray to regain control of the scene.
Rodriguez-McCleary and Bryant, along with a third man identified as Bradley Nimitz, also of Virginia, were arrested and charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. All three were taken to the Anderson County Jail and later released after posting bond.
Information in this story brought to you through an agreement between Oak Ridge Today and WYSH. See more local news headlines on the WYSH website at http://www.wyshradio.com/local_news.html.
R Woodward says
The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported that ACSD pepper-sprayed the crowd including a 5 year old boy.
Ck Kelsey says
I think the fact that they were on private property enforcing the law at the owners request,makes a difference. Sounds like hooliganism by the 3 and trespassing. Why would the crowd defend that? Just asking?