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Barrington RI man arrested Friday after racially charged altercation on Monday

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Police have arrested a man after an altercation from earlier in the week.

According to Barrington Police, on Monday, officers responded to a 911 call on Rumstick Drive. After interviewing all the parties at the scene, officers initially obtained some contradictory/mixed information and their initial observations did not indicate who was actually the primary aggressor and how the actual assault took place.

The investigation continued throughout the week which led to officers viewing several videos obtained concerning the incident. As a result of the investigation, an arrest warrant was obtained for 71-year-old Richard Gordon of Rumstick Drive on August 6, 2020.

On Friday, Gordon was charged with Simple Assault or Battery and Disorderly Conduct and was arraigned in the 6th District Court.

In a video circulating on social media, the neighbors appear to be arguing over property lines. At one point, a man can be heard saying “F*** you n*****!” then what is believed to be an assault takes place. In a second video, Gordon admits to using a racial slur.

Barrington Fire and Rescue personnel was also on scene and attended to an injury Gordon had sustained during the altercation.

In the video, Gordon’s hand can be seen with blood on it.

The Town of Barrington issued a statement in full support of the victim.

“The Town of Barrington is deeply troubled by the racial overtones of a recent physical altercation on Rumstick Drive. This type of behavior is abhorrent and should not be tolerated anywhere. It does not reflect who we are as a community and it is not who we aspire to be. The Town of Barrington extends its support to the victims in this case and stands with all those who condemn discrimination in any form.”

The Town sought the advice of the R.I. Attorney General’s Office as to whether a hate crime charge was warranted in the case. The Attorney General’s Office determined that the additional charge was not appropriate.

Barrington Police state that they “will continue to consult with the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office to determine whether, based on all the available evidence/information, the sentencing enhancement as enumerated in the Hate Crime Statute is applicable. A sentencing enhancement may be filed at any time up to the first Pretrial Conference, on September 11, 2020.”

A “Community Support Against Hate Crimes And Racism” rally is scheduled to take place Sunday afternoon in Barrington in response to the incident.

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3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Barrack

    August 9, 2020 at 12:52 pm

    Are we that desperate to find racism in today’s society that a 71 year old man using a racial slur is national news? If thats the worst thing that happens then we live in Utopia. If you are weeping over being called a name, then you are too fragile for life.

    • Ida

      August 10, 2020 at 1:08 pm

      Amen. Good point. I still do not understand why Gordon felt the need to interfere with the hammering of a property marker. He lives across from the other person, right? It was not adjacent to his own property. And as for the wife of the victim and the victim, they just kept going on and on and on and on when Gordon’s wife kept trying to de-escalate the situation. Seriously. Just go home, call the police, and quit acting like CHILDREN!!

  2. Mikey Morty

    August 9, 2020 at 4:27 pm

    Barrington, a bastion of white privilege and 5 o’clock rose gurgling. This is clear evidence that militant racists are gearing for civil war.

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