What started as a quiet Sunday in Brentwood turned into a neighborhood spectacle when actor Alan Ritchson was caught on video trading blows with a neighbor in the middle of a residential street. The Brentwood Police Department says it responded to the dust-up between Ritchson and another man and is now investigating, as footage of the scuffle circulates online. The clip shows the confrontation unfolding while children were close by, and authorities say no one has been arrested at this point.
What the video shows
Video published by TMZ appears to show Ritchson and a man identified in reports as Ronnie Taylor swinging at each other in the street while two youngsters, reported to be Ritchson’s, sit on minibikes a few feet away. Taylor told TMZ he had previously confronted the actor about alleged speeding and general disturbances in the days leading up to the fight. In the footage, one man falls to the pavement before the other appears to hit him while he is down. Taylor told police he was left with bruises but did not go to the hospital, according to TMZ.
Police say
The Brentwood Police Department confirmed to WSMV that officers are investigating an incident between Ritchson and another man that took place on Sunday and that the case remains open with no arrests so far. According to WSMV, police identified the other man as Ronnie Taylor and have not released further details about what led up to the confrontation. Detectives are asking anyone who has additional information or video of the encounter to contact the department as the investigation continues.
Legal implications
Depending on what investigators ultimately determine, the behavior seen in the recording could potentially support criminal charges ranging from simple assault to aggravated assault under Tennessee law. Simple assault is typically treated as a misdemeanor, while aggravated assault can be charged as a felony when there is serious bodily injury or other aggravating circumstances. For a general overview of how Tennessee defines and prosecutes assault offenses, see FindLaw.
Conflicting accounts
TMZ later reported that sources close to Ritchson claimed he did not start the fight and had been pushed off his motorcycle twice before the portion of the altercation seen in the video. Those sources told TMZ the actor tried to calm the situation down and ended up with cuts and bruises of his own. TMZ also noted that it had reached out to Ritchson’s representatives for comment. The competing stories from the neighbor and people in Ritchson’s camp highlight how investigators will have to match witness accounts with what can be seen in the video.
What’s next
For now, Brentwood police say the case is active, and no charges have been filed. Officers are still asking the public to come forward with any information that might fill in the blanks before and after the recorded clip. Local and national outlets were the first to surface the video and the police response, and further details are likely to emerge only if authorities or Ritchson’s team issue formal statements or prosecutors decide to move ahead with charges. At the moment, the street-side footage and the official investigation are the main public records of what happened during the weekend confrontation, according to WSMV.
