Police chief responds to uptown violence
After three late-night brawls in uptown Martinsville in as many months, the city's police chief has responded to criticism that his department might not be doing enough to prevent the increasing violence.
"Although I do not typically respond to comments made about the police department, I believe it is essential to maintain public trust and refute some of the recent opinions stated, with facts," said Martinsville Police Chief Rob Fincher. "It has been stated that the police department has not proactively patrolled Main Street, allowing incidents to occur. This is entirely untrue."
Fincher provided the Bulletin with Global Positioning System (GPS) data from Oct. 25, just before midnight until the most recent incident occurred around 2 a.m. Oct. 26 when shots were fired and an unconscious man was found on Main Street.
"The data shows that the four units on duty, each conducted multiple proactive patrols of the [Kornna Kitchen] restaurant within that time frame," Fincher said.
The data provided shows Car 12 pinging a cell tower from coordinates along Main Street and Kornna Kitchen 20 times beginning at 11:59 p.m. and ending at 2:23 a.m. Oct. 25-26. Car 14 pinged the same location 10 times from 12 a.m. until 1:10 a.m., Car 15 pinged the location multiple times at 12 a.m. and Car 13 shows on the data list at Main Street with multiple pings at 1:45 a.m.
"During the past several months, the staff at the Kornna Kitchen has been increasingly resistant to police officers' presence," said Fincher.
Kornna Kitchen proprietor Rico Johnson has made it clear in live Facebook posts on his restaurant's Facebook page that "the issues that happen outside the Kornna Kitchen is not a Kornna Kitchen issue."
The violence happening outside, within close proximity to the Kornna Kitchen, has not been lost on local law enforcement.
"On Friday and Saturday nights, bouncers or door security will not allow officers to enter the business; instead, they will stop them at the restaurant's door and call for the management to step outside to speak with the officers," Fincher said. "Outside of a warrant or a 911 call for service, the officers cannot force entry into private property."
Johnson addressed the City Council on Aug. 10, after the first incident where over 150 people had congregated on Main Street, a fight broke out and two people fell through a plate glass window and a Martinsville police officer was injured.
"I carry at least seven tactical guys," Johnson said to council members. "We keep order in the Kornna Kitchen. I haven't had one incident."
Johnson has repeatedly distanced his restaurant from the violence that occurs outside, but Fincher said that representation is giving the public a false impression.
"It has been said that the people causing the recent problems were not coming from inside the business," Fincher said. "This is untrue and surveillance video from outside the building indicates otherwise."
Fincher said the video would not be released while there are pending cases involving the recording being used as evidence.
In the most recent incident, officers responded at approximately 2 a.m. Oct. 26 to a shots fired call. An unresponsive man was found in the road suffering trauma to the head, Deputy Chief Chad Rhodes stated.
Several cartridge casings were found in the street and although police determined a fight had occurred, no one had been shot.
Police collected available video and have been trying to identify the shooters and the assailant, said Rhodes. No arrests have been made in the case.
On Sept. 29, police responded in the early morning hours to Main Street near Kornna Kitchen where they determined a woman had been beaten unconscious in the street and kicked in the face after she was knocked unconscious. Two Bassett women were subsequently arrested on charges related to the incident.
The following day, several ABC agents and law enforcement officers were seen inside the Korrna Kitchen Restaurant and along Main Street in front of the business.
"Although I cannot comment on current investigations, I can say that additional outside agencies have been contacted and are assisting," said Fincher.
Although Johnson indicated to council members in August a willingness to cooperate and work with police to provide a safe environment inside and around the Kornna Kitchen, Fincher said he has found it not to be the case.
We are "willing to assist the Kornna Kitchen with measures to protect their business and help them to be a successful restaurant, however, suggestions on such have been ignored," Fincher said. "We want the public to know that the Martinsville Police Department is greatly concerned for the safety of all our residents. We will continue to try our best to protect the public."
Bill Wyatt (276) 591-7543
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