PRESS RELEASE

REASON FOR PRESS RELEASE: Point Mallard Disturbance

RELEASE DATE: 06/07/2022 INFORMATIONAL CONTACT: Irene Cardenas-Martinez - 256-341-8842

DECATUR, Ala. – During the 2021 water park season, Point Mallard Park had several issues with
boaters pulling up and docking at the beach area at Point Mallard Water Park. Patrons of the park
have complained about intoxicated boaters using foul language, smoking marijuana, drinking and
throwing beer bottles and cans on the beach area. These issues have continued into this season.

On Saturday, May 14, 2022, employees of Point Mallard called Decatur Police due to 10 boats and
30 people out of their boats on the beach, drinking and smoking marijuana. Officers responded and
the subjects left.

On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Point Mallard employees called Decatur Police due to two boats with
approximately 10 people out on the beach. Employees had asked the individuals to leave the beach.
The subjects left and then returned. Employees again requested them to leave. They became
confrontational and told the employees they were not leaving and the employees couldn’t make them
do anything, telling the employees to call the police. Point Mallard employees called Decatur Police
and officers arrived and requested the people leave the area. They complied.

On Saturday, May 28, 2022, Point Mallard Water Park was open for business. Some boaters
returned to the beach area and were asked by employees to get back from the beach numerous
times. Police officers who were working the area responded, requested the boats to leave the area
and they complied.

On Sunday, June 5, 2022, at about 1:30 p.m., officers working the water park were informed by
employees some boaters had returned and were drinking, smoking marijuana, playing loud, profane
music, using profanity and throwing beer bottles and cans on the beach. Responding officers did not
witness any criminal activity at that time and requested the boaters move away from the beach. They
complied.

Later, at about 5:30 p.m., managers of the water park received complaints from patrons of the park
that the boaters were back on the beach, drinking, smoking marijuana, cussing and playing loud,
obscene music to the point that the patrons were about to leave the park and never return. One of
the patrons witnessed sexual acts being performed by two women on the boat facing toward the
park.
Decatur City Hall • 402 Lee Street, NE
Post Office Box 488 • Decatur, AL 35602-0488
Todd Pinion Phone (256) 341-4623 • Fax (256) 341-4605
Chief of Police www.DecaturAlabamaUSA.com
Officers could hear the loud profane music all the way to the dressing room area of the park from a
boat that was backed up to the beach area. They responded to the beach area, finding several
intoxicated people with open containers of alcoholic beverages on the beach, in the water and on the
boats that were tied together approximately 10 yards off shore. They did not see sexual acts taking
place.

Due to the volume of the music, officers had a difficult time making contact with the owner of the
boat playing the music. The officers were met with obscenities by numerous individuals. The music
was then turned down and shortly afterwards was turned up again. While attempting to arrest the
boat owner, the officer was pushed from behind and splashed in the face by another person. The
boat owner was taken into custody.

The person who pushed and splashed the officer then swam away into deeper water to prevent
being taken into custody. He got onto a boat and began taunting the officers in front of the large
crowd, adding to the situation and exciting the crowd to become more disorderly.

The officer removed his vest and portable radio (walkie) with the intentions of apprehending that
person. Another individual standing on the beach took the officer’s portable radio and threw it into
the water. The officer didn’t see the walkie being thrown when he was approached by the subject,
who began cussing at him. He was arrested for Public Intoxication. Warrants will be obtained for that
individual for Criminal Mischief after the dollar amount of damage is determined to repair or replace
the walkie.

The officer then noticed a female on the beach who was yelling at the Point Mallard staff while
holding an open beer. When he attempted to take her into custody for Open Container, he was
grabbed by two other females in order to prevent her arrest. Pepper gas was sprayed on the
females, one was taken into custody, while the others got away.

Another individual was taken into custody for Public Intoxication.

The Morgan County Sheriff’s Department’s boat unit responded to a request for assistance. They
located the boat occupied by the person who had shoved and taunted the officer earlier. The boat
was escorted by the Sheriff’s Department to the Decatur Boat Harbor, where the male was taken into
custody on the dock.

Decatur City Hall • 402 Lee Street, NE

Post Office Box 488 • Decatur, AL 35602-0488
Todd Pinion Phone (256) 341-4623 • Fax (256) 341-4605
Chief of Police www.DecaturAlabamaUSA.com
The following arrests were made:

Katherine Cornelison of Decatur: Public Intoxication and Resisting Arrest

Bradley Wilhite of Hartselle: Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest
Dakota Lamon of Decatur: Public Intoxication.
Lane Dean of Decatur: Public Intoxication
Joshua Holcomb of Waterloo: Harassment, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct

"The above listed defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in the court of law."

More arrests are anticipated as the offenders are identified.

Decatur Police would like to remind the public that waters near and around Point Mallard are within
the Decatur City Limits.

All State laws and Decatur Municipal Ordinances that are in effect on land are enforceable by the
Decatur Police Department on all waterways that are within the city limits.

These laws include, but are not limited to: Open Container of Alcoholic Beverages, Public
Intoxication, Violation of Sound Ordinance, Disorderly Conduct, Public Lewdness, and Indecent
Exposure.

The Point Mallard staff and the Decatur Police Department are working together to prevent similar
illegal activity in the future.

Decatur City Hall • 402 Lee Street, NE

Post Office Box 488 • Decatur, AL 35602-0488
Todd Pinion Phone (256) 341-4623 • Fax (256) 341-4605
Chief of Police www.DecaturAlabamaUSA.com