Tarrant mayor arrested for making harrassing comments about councilman’s wife

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Photo credit: Jefferson County Jail

Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton has been arrested again. The arrest comes after a city council member signed a misdemeanor warrant against him for harassing communications, Al.com reported. The incident allegedly happened July 19 at Tarrant City Hall following a council meeting. He was booked into the Jefferson County on Wednesday and released after posting a $500 bond.

In the deposition, councilman Tommy Bryant accused Newton of shouting an expletive – “F#*&”- several times, and then, “F#*& your wife” multiple times and finally saying, “I’m going to F#*& your wife” several times as well along with other sexually explicit comments.

The deposition states that Tarrant police Lt. Phillip George, Cpl. Anthony Fields and City Councilwoman Cathy Anderson were present.

WVTM13.com posted the charging document on Twitter.

Newton, the city’s first Black mayor, has been at odds with much of the city council since he took office.

“Tommy Bryant is an unapologetic bigot who is a cancer to the City of Tarrant and my administration,’’ Newton said. “I am confident that the baseless harassment claim he has filed against me will be thrown out.”

Bryant and Newton had a confrontation in July during a city council meeting where Bryant was captured on video using a racial slur toward Black people. Bryant is seen in the video using the racial epithet “house N—–” to describe a Black city council member. Bryant tried to dismiss criticism by saying he was just repeating something the mayor said in an executive session.

Newton has been met with resistance from a majority of the city council since he was sworn in in November. On his first day in office, Newton had a confrontation with the now-retired police chief, Dennis Reno, over his request for Tarrant to hire more Black police officers.

Reno filed a misdemeanor assault charge against Newton, claiming Newton slammed his arm in the door. Newton later released video of Reno leaving the meeting, which he said disproved Reno’s claim of an assault.

A hearing on the newest charge is set for September.