The Reacher actor Alan Ritchson was recently engaged in a brawl with a man in his neighborhood in Tennessee. However, the matter has been resolved, and the actor has been cleared of criminal charges by the Brentwood Police Department. Now, new police bodycam footage has emerged that brings more perspective to the brawling incident.
Alan Ritchson urged police to do a toxicology report, claiming neighbor was drunk
The video footage from the police officer’s bodycam is from the day after Ritchson’s fight with his neighbor that went viral. In the video, Ritchson claimed that his neighbor, Ronnie Taylor, was drunk during their scuffle. Initial footage that was circulating on social media showed the American actor whaling on Taylor on the ground and portrayed him in a bad light. It wasn’t until Ritchson’s own bodycam footage surfaced that it was suggested Taylor initiated the fight by shoving Ritchson from his motorbike.
Footage from Law&Crime Network on YouTube shows Ritchson initially hesitant to speak with the police without his attorney present, given his high-profile and very public background. But then he decided to open up about the incident and claimed that his neighbor was in an inebriated state when he instigated the fight.
“You also need to do a toxicology report; he smells like alcohol.” Reacher could be heard saying, “I would like a toxicology report pulled on that dude. That’s a part of this. Him being drunk wouldn’t have anything to do with this?”
Furthermore, he asked the police what he was going to do with his own body cam footage that would prove his innocence. “In a situation like this, which I’m sure looks bad for me, but is self-defence, and he’s gonna claim whatever… He’s obviously a liar; he said I hit him on the bike… He’s obviously the aggressor here, in my opinion. Do I just sit and wait? Do I file something with my attorney, or what happens? What do I do to protect myself here?” he stated in the footage.
Thereafter, the police officers instructed him to provide the video evidence to the detectives, who would assess it and come to a conclusion after evaluating the claims of both sides.
Notably, Taylor had also claimed in the video footage recorded by the police that he had a drink while watching soccer and wanted to stop Ritchson as he thought he was speeding while riding his bike. Furthermore, Taylor himself admitted that he came into the path of the Hollywood actor while he was riding his bike and pushed him twice, which initiated the brawl.
In the end, the Brentwood Police determined that Ritchson acted in self-defense and cleared him of all criminal charges. No charges were filed against either party, and the neighbor dropped charges voluntarily.
