Officer injured, 6 arrested after brawl outside Newport restaurant

NEWPORT, R.I. (WLNE) — The Newport Police Department announced multiple arrests were made after an officer was assaulted while responding to a disturbance.

Officials said on Monday at approximately 12:35 a.m., police were called to the Landing Restaurant for a report of a disorderly group of people.

The initial report said one person was denied entry into the restaurant, prompting officers to investigate the situation, which quickly escalated when a crowd began gathering around officers.

Authorities said that despite multiple orders to maintain a safe distance, people in the crowd began to interfere with police. During the arrest of one person, an officer was reportedly kicked in the groin, knocked to the ground and punched in the face.

At the same time, officials said that another person tried to remove officers’ weapons from their holsters. Police said they restrained that person, who briefly lost consciousness, but regained it shortly afterwards.

Several more people were arrested for attempting to interfere with the initial arrests. Following the altercation, police said the officer who was assaulted was treated at Newport Hospital and later released.

The following six people were arrested in connection to the incident near the Landing Restaurant:

• Robert Nash, 30, of Marshfield, Mass., is charged with assaulting an officer, simple assault or battery, resisting arrest, obstruction of an officer and disorderly conduct
• Alexandra Flaherty, 31, of Marshfield, Mass., charged with assaulting an officer, simple assault or battery, resisting arrest, obstruction of an officer and disorderly conduct
• Rachael Onik, 41, of Barrington, is charged with two counts of simple assault or battery, resisting arrest, obstruction of an officer and disorderly conduct
• David Onik, 41, of Barrington, is charged with disorderly conduct
• Olivia Costello, 20, of Milton, Mass., is charged with simple assault or battery, resisting arrest, obstruction of an officer and disorderly conduct
• Kylie Swain, 28, of South Weymouth, Mass., is charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Captain Charles Silva at 401-845-5739.