By admin 
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) —Three people are facing charges after police used pepper spray to break up a large crowd and several fights in downtown Winston-Salem earlier this month, according to the Winston-Salem Police Department.
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Background
At around 11:53 p.m. on May 5, officers were flagged down by security staff and patrons of The Wrong Number on 408 W. Fourth St. due to an active fight inside the business.
Police say they arrived at the scene and found several “physical fights” taking place inside the bar. Officers stepped in and tried to disperse the involved parties.
Several minutes later, investigators say a “several hundred” person crowd formed from people leaving The Wrong Number and other bars in the area. That crowd overflowed onto West Fourth Street as it grew, and several other fights broke out.
Police say that due to the escalating fights and concern for public safety, officers used pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
Three people are being charged.
21-year-old Azaevion Ian Neal is being charged with the following:
- Assault on a government official
- Failure to disperse
- Inciting a riot
- Resisting, delaying, and obstructing a public officer
- Disorderly conduct
Neal was given a $4,000 secured bond.
24-year-old Micah Juwan Jones was charged with:
- Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Government Official
- Inciting a Riot
- Resist, Delay, and Obstruct a Public Officer
- Disorderly Conduct
- Impeding Traffic
He was given a $50,000 secured bond.
22-year-old Alexis Oneciaa Clark was cited for assault on a government official.
The investigation is ongoing.
Witnesses Speak Out
FOX8 spoke with several witnesses. One witness says he knew he needed to get out of the area. “I didn’t know where to look over my shoulder because there were so many people, and I didn’t know when the next one was going to break out,” said the witness.
Victoria Bourgeois-Osborne shared a video from her apartment. She says even from afar, she felt unsettled.
“I don’t know. I was nervous because there have been a lot of crime reports lately in Winston, I mean, I think everyone knows that there’s been a lot of shootings. So I was like, ‘Oh, has it come a little closer to home?’ That’s really my first thought,” said Bourgeois-Osborne.
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She says she feels comfortable being downtown, and she’s been to that bar before.
“It was very chill when I was there. I don’t know, maybe it was a weird night,” said Bourgeois-Osborne.
The owner of The Wrong Number shared the following statement:
We are grateful for the swift and professional response from the Winston-Salem Police Department following an isolated incident at our bar yesterday. Their quick intervention helped ensure the situation was resolved without further escalation.
The Wrong Number has always been committed to providing a safe, welcoming environment for all members of our community. We want to be absolutely clear that violence, intolerance, discrimination, and racism have no place in our bar. These behaviors are strictly prohibited and will never be tolerated.
We are taking this incident seriously and are reviewing our security protocols to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The safety of our patrons and staff remains our highest priority.
We appreciate the continued support of our community and look forward to continuing to serve as a positive gathering space where everyone feels respected and welcome.
Anyone with information is asked to call the WSPD at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or En Espanol 336-728-3904. Tips made to Crime Stoppers can be made anonymously. A Crime Stoppers Tip Form can also be located online. You can also view “Crime Stoppers of Winston-Salem Forsyth County” on Facebook. Tips, including photos and videos, can be texted to the WSPD at 336-276-1717.
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