Portsmouth, New Hampshire – A former Portsmouth police sergeant, Aaron Goodwin, is facing allegations of assaulting a local bank executive in a violent incident last November. Assistant Strafford County Attorney Joachim Barth detailed the assault on Mamadou Dembele, a Black man, outside a popular diner in a court filing on April 26. The incident involved Goodwin reportedly “slamming” Dembele to the ground, causing a concussion, while his sister-in-law hurled racial slurs at Dembele and others.
The altercation unfolded at Gilley’s Diner, where the Goodwin family and Dembele crossed paths late one evening. The encounter escalated, with Kevin Goodwin allegedly making racially-charged comments towards Dembele, leading to a physical confrontation outside the restaurant. Dembele was reportedly horse-collared and thrown to the ground by Aaron Goodwin, resulting in a head injury.
Charges were brought forth against Aaron Goodwin, his brother, Kevin Goodwin, and sister-in-law, Shannon Goodwin, by the New Hampshire State Police in connection to the incident. Despite the allegations of racial slurs being thrown around during the altercation, Aaron Goodwin is not accused of using racist language. The case is scheduled for a bench trial in May.
The prosecutor, Barth, emphasized the significance of the racist remarks in understanding the full context of the assault. Defense attorney John Durkin, on the other hand, argued that Aaron Goodwin was acting in defense of his sister-in-law and denied any racial comments attributed to his client. The case has sparked debates over self-defense and the role of provocation in legal justifications for using force in defense.
The incident involving the Goodwin family and Dembele underscores issues of racial tensions and violence. Dembele, who sustained injuries from the altercation, has described the incident as racist, prompting further scrutiny from civil rights advocates. The lack of hate crime charges in the case has raised questions about the handling of racially-motivated incidents within the legal system.
As the trial date approaches, the community awaits further developments in the case and how the court will address the allegations of assault and racial misconduct. The outcome of the trial could have implications for future cases involving similar circumstances, shedding light on the complexities of race relations and legal accountability in violent confrontations.