Brawl erupts at Lucky’s Tavern Police officer, patrons injured

NEWPORT – A brawl spilled out of Lucky’s Tavern early Saturday into a nearby potato field, then reignited in an attack on a police officer in a hospital emergency room.

Officer Michael Cote received 17 stitches in his mouth and face, and two people believed to have been involved in the brawl were treated for injuries.

Two bar patrons were charged with assault.

Clarence Rider, 23, of Exeter was charged with assault on bar owner Paul LaChance and assault on a police officer. Robert Methvin, 42, of Meriden, Conn., was charged with assault on the bar’s bouncer, Warren Worcester, 50.

Police Sgt. Sanger Davis said the incident began with a call for help from Lucky’s on Route 2 in East Newport just before 1 a.m. Several fights had apparently broken out in the bar, but the situation had wound down to yelling when Davis arrived.

Worcester was injured and tables and chairs were upturned and scattered about.

There were about 30 people at the bar, but apparently only about eight were involved in the fight, Davis said.

Davis said Methvin and Rider had left the bar and were identified by owner LaChance as the two people who had started the fight. LaChance and two patrons left the bar to find the two men while Davis was obtaining statements.

Davis said he followed them and discovered all five men fighting in a potato field off the Ridge Road. He said he saw Rider strike LaChance with his fist, so Davis took him into custody.

“At that point, we were waiting for the ambulance,” said Davis, since Rider was also suffering from lacerations from a beer bottle used during the bar fight.

Davis followed the ambulance carrying Rider to Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield, but so did a number of bar patrons. Fearing a larger problem, the hospital requested a Pittsfield officer come to the emergency room to keep the peace.

After Officer Cote arrived, he and Davis tried to enter Rider’s room to summon him for assault. At that point, a woman later identified as Rider’s mother also attempted to enter the room and Cote blocked her path.

“Apparently Mr. Rider thought that the officer had grabbed his mother, and he struck Mike in the face,” said Davis.

Cote received 17 stitches in his mouth and cheek, according to Police Chief Steven Emery. Worcester and another patron, whose name was not available, also were treated for lacerations. LaChance did not require medical treatment.

Davis said he was still interviewing many of those involved and that additional charges may be filed.