Newport Police Break Up Fight Near Equality Park

NEWPORT, RI — A crowd gathered near Equality Park around 6 p.m. Thursday, according to the police narrative. A white Ford Edge was stopped in the middle of Broadway. All the doors were flung open, and clothing was tossed on the ground. Several passersby called police to report two women fighting.

The fight, police allege, was a continuation of a domestic assault that started hours earlier on Malbone Road and Van Zandt. Conor Dillon Carr, 33, and his current girlfriend, Caitlin A. Brousseau, 32, both of Portsmouth, drove over to Malbone Road to confront the mother of his children. He jumped out of his Ford Edge SUV, police allege, and kicked and punched her. When she was on the ground, he "curb-stomped" her, police also allege. Witnesses claimed he pulled her shirt off and beat her. He also allegedly assaulted another woman with her. That incident happened around 1:16 a.m.

The victim was bleeding but went around to the passenger side of the SUV where Brousseau was sitting inside the car and yelled across at him. Carr then allegedly reached over, took her by the hair and pulled her halfway into the vehicle. She flailed her arms and inadvertently hit Brousseau. Carr then stepped on the accelerator and let her hair go. The woman fell out the window. She told police he almost drove her into a parked car. Witnesses looking out the window said he appeared to try to run her over as he sped away.

Police found her injured and trying to stop the blood with a cloth. The officer said the blood was pooled on the ground.

Police caught up with Carr at Chapel Terrace later and arrested him. He was charged at 12:05 p.m. with felony Domestic Simple Assault or Battery, 3rd offense; and two misdemeanors, Domestic Disorderly Conduct and Domestic Simple Assault or Battery.

Carr and Brousseau went to the police station to discuss problems they'd been having with the victim. Brousseau gave police a different account of the incident, police said. She claimed the woman smashed the car's passenger side window.

Then at 5:50 p.m. passersby called police about a fight at Equality Park. The witnesses said two men and two women were in the street around an SUV. The first officer arriving said the women were arguing and "in each other's faces." He called for backup. When he separated the two, he alleges they started swinging at each other, and both landed several slaps and punches.

According to the narrative, this incident allegedly started when Carr stopped the SUV at a stop sign, and the woman he assaulted earlier reportedly "lunged into the window" and hit Brousseau. Carr left the car and hit her again. The two women started pushing each other, and a man and a woman attempted to stop the fight.

Police arrested Brousseau, 32, and charged her with misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct. The other woman was taken to Newport Hospital. Carr was also taken to Newport Hospital after he became agitated after learning Brousseau was being charged.

Patch will update this story.