Barrington residents involved in Newport brawl facing additional charges

Rachel and David Onik arraigned on new charges on Oct. 17

Posted 10/20/23

Barrington’s Rachel Onik is facing two additional charges stemming from a brawl with police officers in Newport last month.  

According to the multiple media outlets, Newport Police …

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Barrington residents involved in Newport brawl facing additional charges

Rachel and David Onik arraigned on new charges on Oct. 17

Posted

Barrington’s Rachel Onik is facing two additional charges stemming from a brawl with police officers in Newport last month. 

According to the multiple media outlets, Newport Police recently charged Onik with two felony counts of larceny from a person — one count for each time she allegedly attempted to grab a gun off a Newport Police Officer.

Also, Newport Police recently charged David Onik, Rachel’s husband, with with two counts of simple assault and one count of trespassing. 

Rachel and David Onik were arraigned in Newport District Court on Oct. 17 on the new charges. The new felony charges against Rachel Onik will reportedly be screened by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office. 

The new charges were added to a list of previous offenses facing the Oniks. David Onik was arraigned on Sept. 13 for a charge of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. He pled not guilt. 

Rachel Onik was also arraigned on Sept. 13 on two counts of simple assault, one count of resisting arrest, one count of obstructing an officer in execution of duty, and one count of disorderly conduct. They are all misdemeanor charges. She also pled not guilty.

The charges stem from an altercation that occurred in Newport early Sunday morning, Sept. 10 — a small group of people including the Oniks fought with Newport Police officers at Bowen’s Wharf. Multiple videos of the fight surfaced online following the incident. 

According to Newport Daily News, the incident began after the Oniks and others were denied entry to The Landing restaurant and bar. David Onik reportedly became combative with staff at The Landing, who called police to the scene.

After officers responded, tempers flared and multiple people began fighting with the officers; one of the police officers suffered a broken nose during the fight. 

In one of the videos, Rachel Onik can be seen grabbing at an officer's gun holster, before the officer spins and strikes her in the face, knocking her to the ground, apparently unconscious. 

Others charged in the incident

• Robert Nash, of Marshfield, Mass., is charged with felony assault of police officers and other officials; simple assault or battery, a misdemeanor; resisting arrest, a misdemeanor; obstructing an officer in execution of duty, a misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. 

• Alexandria Flaherty, of Marshfield, Mass., is charged with felony assault of police officers and other officials; simple assault or battery; and resisting arrest.

• Olivia Costello, of Milton, Mass., is charged with simple assault or battery; resisting arrest; obstructing an officer in execution of duty, and disorderly conduct. 

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.