'Reacher' Star's Neighborhood Brawl Caught on Bodycam

An actor known for his buff physique. [music] and wild action stunts on the. hit Amazon Prime show Reacher allegedly. faced off against one of his neighbors. in a real-life physical confrontation, but there is a lot more to this story. than maybe just that one viral video you. may have seen. He gets back up, off his. bike, and then like beats the out of me. A situation like this, which I'm sure it. looks bad for me, but it's self-defense. Including what seemingly happened from. Alan [music] Ritchson's point of view.

I've called them already CUZ YOU'VE BEEN. DRIVING ON THE neighborhood like a. lunatic. Yeah, you may have seen bits. and pieces of this story. >> [music]. >> We have so much more. Welcome to. Sidebar, presented by Law & Crime. I'm. Jesse [music] Weber. Look, I got to say something. As I cover. these stories, I'm always thinking about. the danger out there for all of you. What about this? What about a stranger. finding and using anything about your. private life? Your name, your phone. number, your address, it's all out. there. It's all online, which is why I. want people who follow us here on.

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privacy back with Incogni. Go to. incogni.com/sidebar. Use code sidebar for 60% off an annual. plan. Alan Ritchson might be one of the. most formidable-looking actors in. Hollywood right now. I feel very. comfortable saying that. Have you seen. this guy? 43 years old, best known as. the star of the show Reacher, stands 6. ft 3 in tall, more than 200 lb, most of. it is pure muscle. So, I have to say, it. was pretty shocking to see this video of. him apparently attacking one of his.

neighbors in Brentwood, Tennessee, this. affluent area outside of Nashville. That. was the initial accusation. That was the. initial belief. But then, there was a. lot more to the story, okay? A lot more. video that helped tell this story. Because now we have newly released body. cam footage and video from Ritchson's. own camera strapped to his chest that. apparently shows what may have happened. before and after this viral. confrontation. So, now you're going to. have a 360°.

picture of what went down. And we're. going to talk about where all this. footage came from. But just here's a. sample. >> He's obviously a liar. He said I hit him. on the bike, called me a instigating. whatever. He He was obviously the aggressor here, in my opinion. Okay. So, let's start. with the witness video from March 22nd. You know what it is. It quickly swept. the internet. Everybody was talking. about it, went viral. Now, because of. YouTube guidelines, I have to be clear, we can't show you the first few seconds. of the witness video where Ritchson. apparently hits a man identified as.

Ronnie Taylor multiple times as he's on. the ground. That was again the. allegation, the accusation. But the. camera then zooms in on Ritchson as he. appears to walk away, picks up his green. motorcycle, pushing it onto the grass, falls over. Now, although there's no. audio, Taylor can be seen yelling and. waving his arms before he walks up to. the driveway of a large home, and. Ritchson drives off. This is followed by. two of his three children who are on. their own bikes. Taylor did an interview. with TMZ after his video of the.

confrontation came out and went viral, showing what appeared to be some. swelling and red scrapes on his face. But Ritchson himself hinted that there. was more to the story. He posted a quote. attributed to Napoleon on his Instagram. saying, "Never interrupt your enemy when. he is making a mistake." So, what did we. do? We requested more video from. Brentwood police, right? To see what. else happened here. What was the other. angles, okay? And that is what we have. That is what I want to break down for. you right now. We also have an incident.

report from Brentwood PD, too, that. explains what multiple officers. encountered when they got to this. neighborhood. So, you're learning a. little bit more about the different. stages of this investigation. And we. learned during the course of our. research that Ritchson and Taylor, their. homes are less than a mile away from. each other in the same neighborhood. And. it appears that Ritchson was out for a. weekend ride with his kids. Now, one of. the officers spoke with a witness who. said he was driving when he, quote, "Saw. a male in a blue shirt, later identified.

as Ronnie Taylor, approach the male on a. bike, later identified as Alan Ritchson, in the middle of the street, and they. were yelling at each other." The witness. then stated they both started pounding. on each other and stopped. Then the male. on the bike drove away. The incident. report continues. "I was also able to. review video footage from the neighbor's. camera, who Sergeant Thigpen also spoke. with. This video showed Mr. Taylor. approaching the middle of the street, Mr. Ritchson falling off his motorcycle,

then getting up and pushing Mr. Taylor. back towards his residence. Then, as Mr. Taylor falls backwards, Mr. Ritchson is. seen steadily walking up towards Mr. Taylor, but the video is unable to show. what occurs afterwards." This is. important because in any self-defense. analysis, you have to ask, "Who's the. initial aggressor, right? Who started. the physical altercation? Who presented. the first threat?" An argument could be. that when you look at the video, at.

least characterized by law enforcement, it appears to show Taylor as the one who. started. He allegedly goes in the middle. of the street to stop Ritchson, who's. driving a motorcycle, an incredibly. incredibly dangerous act, right? Or. alleged act. Here's Tennessee law on. this, by the way. It says, quote, "A. person who is not engaged in conduct. that would constitute a felony or class. A misdemeanor." And by the way, I'm sure. if this ever went to trial, Taylor would. make the argument that, you know, look, Ritchson was speeding up and down, right? And maybe he was violating the. law, but I think that could be a.

stretch. Anyway, a person who is not. engaged in conduct that would constitute. a felony or class A misdemeanor and is. in a place where the person has a right. to be. I mean, again, the argument would. be Ritchson and his children are just. driving as they can on a public street. They're allowed to do that. So, this. person, where they have a legal right to. be, they're not breaking the law, they. have no duty to retreat before. threatening or using force against. another person when and to the degree. the person reasonably believes the force.

is immediately necessary to protect. against the other's use or attempted use. of unlawful force. There's a second. provision to the section. No duty to. retreat before threatening or using. force intended or likely to cause death. or serious bodily injury if the person. has a reasonable belief that there is an. imminent danger of death, serious bodily. injury, or grave sexual abuse. That last. part doesn't apply. The danger is real. or honestly believed to be real at the. time, and the belief of danger is.

founded upon reasonable grounds. Now, what is reasonable in these. circumstances, right? The argument would. be Ritchson is driving with his kids, stranger, this guy gets in the middle of. the street, stops the motorcycle. It's. very dangerous. Is he presenting himself. as a danger to Ritchson and his. children? And there's an allegation that. Taylor pushed Ritchson, that he started. this. Okay, so you have all that in. mind, we go forward. to go back to the. video. So, here's what Taylor told some.

of the first officers on scene. And. based on his comments, it seems he. didn't even know who he was apparently. squaring off with. A green Kawasaki, like jazzing the revs, ba ba ba. And I. was like, "Dude, come on." Yeah. Like. Look, this is a There's kids rolling. around all day. We don't need you doing. 40, 50 mph. And he flips me the bird. So, I'm like, "Yeah, whatever." There we. go. So, anyway, I rolled my bike out. this afternoon. to to clean it up. And he comes through. the neighborhood. full full revs with two kids on fucking.

e-bikes. He goes up the up the hill, comes back down. I walk out and stop and. say, "Hey guy, dude, you got to stop. You got to stop like in these. neighborhoods.". So, he he he brakes hard cuz I I was. like trying to stop him. I was like, "You got to" He falls off his bike. He. gets up, and he starts waving You can. see this. He's Yeah. He starts waving on. me. He needs medical attention. So So So, then then I like He gets back. on his bike, and I'm like He starts. getting like fresh and like I push him. back. He gets back up, off his bike, and.

then like beats the out of me. >> [clears throat]. >> I didn't push back. But he's like going going. >> [sighs]. >> And I was like, "Can you just stop. riding around here like a". Right. There's kids here, man. So, he You can see. Yeah, I see you. That's right. And I'm. on the floor. waving on me. I was scared, like I'm not. here with a victim. And all I was trying.

to do was trying to clean my bike. Do you want me to clean my bike? Do you. know who who it is? I don't know. But you you saw him yesterday. Sorry? Did you get a tag on the green. Kawasaki? >> He He was It was a green Kawasaki with. a a big muscly dude. >> Yeah, he was like huge. >> Huge dude. And I I I pushed him back, and then he fell cuz he fell over the. >> he What was he wearing? Uh. >> [snorts]. >> I reckon just regular. You did? Yeah, you can see You can You. can see I just pulled my bike out.

>> [snorts]. >> You want me to wake up my kid. Dude, that's right. I know he said he didn't want any, but. he's got a pretty large abrasion on his. head, and it's swollen pretty bad. So, let's get. Let me see that.

Good. Hi. Hello. Do you have the address. you're at? Yes. Can you confirm Simple, that's where the. orange dirt bike is at? >> No, this is. Hello, this is. Sergeant Smith with the Brentwood Police. Department. No, I just LIKE I'M SO FED UP WITH. PEOPLE riding through our neighborhood. at this crazy speed. Is that how it started? Cuz I. just heard you guys yelling. Well, I. heard him like I heard him like I heard. him revving and.

And then I cuz I ride motorcycles all. the time, so I I kind of like I know, and I'm I'm very respectful. >> I'm sorry, Officer. Like No, no, you're. good. So, I do have I have just given. the size of that knot on your head, I'm. going to have fire and EMS just come. out. >> No. You can refuse I'd rather them check. you out. Yeah, I'd rather you be checked out. Cuz. he he laid a couple of I didn't I didn't. try to hit him back. >> Uh-uh. I did push him. I was like, "Enough is enough." Cuz he he hit me. once, so I was like I And then then he. like when I went to the ground, he like. rolled onto me and like laid in.

laid in front. >> Sergeant Smith, you have 828 even though. you're on 828. in front of these two. kids, which I find disturbing. And I can. tell you, Officer, I didn't I did push him once. Well, I. mean, it looked like it was after he had. already struck you. >> Yeah, I did push him away because and. then when I pushed him away, he his bike. fell over, I think. I'm not sure if you. have it on your camera or not. But. there'll be cameras there, cameras. there. And then when he did that, he. just like wailed on me and when I went. to the ground, he kicked me in the out. of me, which is why I went into it. Like. I wasn't going to fight him. He's a big.

dude. I. I wasn't interested in that. He's like, "Have you had a drink? Have you HAD A. DRINK?" I SAID, "YEAH, I HAD A DRINK. WHILE I WAS WATCHING THE soccer today in. my house.". >> Right. And I bring my bike out and you. can see I was bringing my bike out to. clean it. He comes around the corner. with. you know, it's it's it's just un- it's. unnecessary. And you go enjoy yourself. with your bike, but don't ride around at. unnecessary speeds. Especially with two. kids with you and two kids with him. So, in front of the two kids, he.

literally kicked out of me. And I. [snorts] I wasn't going to fight back. >> Right. But he um. he did his work on me and I [snorts]. absolutely want to press charges for. sure. >> Okay. All right. I would I wouldn't. normally, but but. the fact that he like went once and. twice. I I I I just don't think it's um. I don't think it's uh. it's unnecessary. Hello. How are you? Good. How you doing? I've had a better. day. Okay. Almost face-to-face. Were you. hurt? Uh no. I haven't seen him yet. I.

know he's up there, but So, neighbor. across she was in the window right. there. She filmed it. I just got the. email sent to me now. >> Okay. from her. So, I've got video. footage of it. And. neighbor here also came out and they're. they've got a ring camera and then also. a camera up on the side of the house. there that may have [clears throat]. caught it. And hopefully we can at least. get do we something. So. >> Is it the dad? Yeah, yeah, he's the big dude. So, then a sergeant arrives on scene and. figures out it was likely Alan Ritson.

involved in this altercation. And the. sergeant is able to get him on the phone. first. Take a listen. Hello. Hey, is this Alan? Yes, it is. Hey, Alan, this is Sergeant. Townsend with the Brentwood Police. Department. Yeah. Hey, so I'm down the street from. your house. I understand there was a. altercation that occurred on the other. side of the neighborhood. Uh I'd like. for you to come out and talk to me. >> Yes, there was. Okay. Can you come out. and talk to me about that?

Yeah, I'm I'm the only caretaker right. now with my kids. I got three kids. inside, so if you guys are close enough, I can come out. Okay, yeah, yeah. I'll. just meet you on your on your front. porch. Yeah, you got it. Okay, perfect. Thank. you. Bye. Hey, Alan. Hey, how you doing? Hey, good. How are you? I'm good. I'm I'm. trying to contact my attorney. Oh, you're good. I think you remember Officer Smith from. yesterday. Oh, yeah.

Yeah. It's been a weird 2 days. Yeah, it's been different. Um. So, all we want to do is talk about what. happened over there. >> Okay, I just I. Obviously, my life is very high stakes. one. >> Sure. Very public, so I just I think I. need my attorney. to just be privy to this. Ritson seems. to try to get his lawyer on the phone, but it's a Sunday and he doesn't answer. And a quick note here, the sergeant. makes reference to his fellow officer. possibly being recognizable from. yesterday, and Alan Ritson says he. remembers her, but there's no further. information about what they might be.

talking about. Could be anything, just. wanted to highlight that. Now, at first, Ritson seems kind of hesitant to answer. any questions. In fact, this is. according to the incident report, too. They make note of that. But when the. sergeant brings up the witness video, Ritson says he also caught the whole. thing on his cell phone, which had been. strapped to his chest. Yeah. There's. video of the incident, right? It doesn't. show the. whatever started it, but it does show. you being beating him up pretty good. >> Did he cut out the rest? This was from a. this was from a neighbor. But I'm just. letting you know there is there is.

>> cut out the part where he shoved me off. the bike? >> So, this isn't from him. This is from a. just a third-party witness. Was it cut. though? Was it edited? No. So, you would have seen him shove me off. my bike after I tried to leave. peacefully. >> Yeah, so I'm not accusing you of. anything. >> No, no, I know, but but like I'm just. saying what have you seen though? Because if you didn't see that part, the. rest doesn't make sense. So, all I see. is you beating up on him in the grass, right? I didn't I'm just saying. which is why I'm here cuz it doesn't. look good for you and I want to figure. out what happened over there. >> tape, dude. Let's just watch it. together. I He needs to You also need to do a. toxicology report. He smells like.

alcohol. Okay. This is it. Yeah, is that your blood? Do. you need medical attention or anything. like that? It's on your elbow. Yeah, I got hit pretty hard, dude. So, let's take a look at what he. apparently showed the police. You kidding me, dude? You got to do what. you got to do. Are you kidding me, bro? >> For what? For what? GET. FOR WHAT? STANDING IN FRONT OF A BIKE. AGAIN, DUDE. For doing what? AM I. >> YOU THREATEN MY SAFETY, BRO. Are you. kidding me? I should knock YOU THE FUCK.

OUT NOW. GO AHEAD. Knock me out. Go Go Go ahead. I've called the BPT. I'VE CALLED THEM ALREADY CUZ YOU'VE BEEN. DRIVING ON THIS NEIGHBORHOOD like a. lunatic. Really, there's kids riding. around here. Go ahead. It's all on. camera. Go ahead. Are you drunk right. now, bro? Go ahead. Are you drinking? Go. ahead. Call the police. Out of your. mind, dude. Call the police. You're lucky I knock you out, bro. Go. ahead. Knock me out. Go ahead. I've called the police. Unbelievable, dude. I called the police.

It's all on camera. You're riding around. here like a. I should have run you over, dude. You. did? You did? I'm in my house. Taking your light bike. You're driving around like a. lunatic. Call the CALL THE POLICE. I BELIEVE that because you're. Go ahead. Leave. Ride around the neighborhood because. you're driving around like a.

lunatic. And you what I I'm going to put an. assault charge on you. I'm going to put an assault charge on. you. Assault charge. Assault charge on you. With these kids, you're not. Okay. Go ahead. Go Go do it. Ooh, dude. You. >> [screaming].

>> Out of your god damn. What? Stay down. Yeah, stay down. Big stake. Stupid. Hey, that's assault. Go ahead. Brace. I've called the police. No problem. Hey. It's assault.

Riding around the world. Assault battery. Assault battery. Idiot. >> [sighs]. >> By the way, all on camera. Your assault to me is all on camera. I've called the police. Assault.

So, there is going to be a report taken. for this, obviously. I mean, you're. welcome to call your attorney. I'll give. you the incident number so you have. that. Um. 250. 250. Can you pull a case number if there. hasn't been one pulled already? I. I would like a toxicology report on. that, too. This That's a part of this. Okay.

And being drunk wouldn't have anything. to do with this. 10-4. We don't do toxicology reports for. public intox, right? He's getting. medically evaluated right now cuz he. does have injuries. All this is going to. be documented. The misdemeanor whether a. misdemeanor occurred is if it occurred. outside of my presence, both parties are. separated. So, we're just going to. document this, take a report, let the. investigation play out. 250. I think that's what I called. So, in a. in a situation like this.

10-4. A situation like this, which I'm sure it. looks bad for me, but it's self-defense. And he's going to claim whatever. He's. obviously a liar. He said I hit him on. the bike, called me a person who's. getting whatever. He He was obviously the aggressor here, in my opinion. Well, what do I just sit and wait for, or do I do I file something with my. attorney, or what happened? Like what do. I do to protect myself here? So, I mean He's obviously the the. aggressor. You've got the video stuff. right there. So, just submit that to us. We'll put that in the evidence log along.

with the other all the other witness. information and And somebody watches. everything that they have and they put. it like. >> Yeah, it goes over to it goes over to. detectives, yeah. So, that they'll see. all that. Yep, and they make the. determinations on their end. Got it. So, that that's our job. We come out here, we take the report. Obvi- And again, there doesn't need to be an an arrest. made right now. If there is one that's. going to be made because you guys are. all separated. So, I've got to cat- I've got to collect. all the evidence from everybody, get all. the all the witness statements and stuff. like that with my officers, and that's. what we're doing right now. That's why I. wanted to come and talk to you. Because you've got your side of the. story, right? I sure do. Like even.

though he started the phone call to the. police, I I feel like he was the. aggressor. He was self-defense. Obviously, he put his hands on me and. pushed me off my bike. I needed to. make sure myself and my kids were safe. Uh. Like I think he should have to be fairly. arrested right now. So, like how But how. do how do I make that. a part of this or like will will they. determine from base off this that. actually he should be arrested? So, we'll go based off of the all the. evidence that we have. That's going to. be taken into account, obviously, the. other video, which is consistent with. what that shows, and then the witness.

statements from people that saw. Um and that's what we take into account, right? And then his injuries, obviously. And there is some some blood on your. elbow. Do you have any cuts or anything. like that? Yeah, I mean I worked out. pretty hard. Um. I jammed I jammed my thumbs super bad. Okay. All right, do you mind if I go. grab my camera and take take a picture. of that? Okay, perfect. Okay, so now you. have that video. But also, the sergeant. documents Ritchson's apparent injuries. Quote, "An abrasion on his right elbow. that had bled through his shirt." And.

the actor claimed he had two jammed. thumbs, said he didn't need medical. attention though. He also says there's. some damage to his bike, but he. seemingly didn't want to have it. documented at that point. >> The only person endangering anybody here. was this dude. The only aggressor was. this dude. It only got unsafe in the environment of. the neighborhood when he uh started. being aggressive. and jumping in front of bikes and. pushing people off bikes. Like why Like. I feel unsafe with him in the. neighborhood right now. I feel unsafe. with my kids going out in the. neighborhood. Like why doesn't he get. arrested? >> Jay, what are you going to tell me?

Well, like I said, the same thing for. you is the same thing for him. This is a. misdemeanor that occurred outside of our. presence. You guys are separated, so. we're doing all the investigation, getting everything, and then it's going. to be reviewed. That's totally fine. It's totally fine. All right, I'm going to go upload these. if you guys will just hang out with him. What happens? The incident was indeed. reviewed by an investigative team, and. according to the incident report, a. lieutenant had followed up with Alan. Ritchson and Ronnie Taylor 2 days later. Quote, "On March 24th, 2026, Lieutenant. Breedlove interviewed Ritchson and.

photographed minor damage to his. motorcycle. Ritchson's recollection of. the March 22nd incident was consistent. with his original written statement and. his personal body worn camera video. Ritchson maintained that he acted in. self-defense, stated he did not want to. prosecute Taylor for causing the. motorcycle crash, his own injuries due. to the crash, or any damage to his. motorcycle. On March 24th, 2026, Lieutenant Breedlove consulted with.

Deputy District Attorney Sean Dutty and. Assistant District Attorney Lindsey. Morland. Both agreed that Ritchson acted. in self-defense and that Taylor could be. held criminally liable for causing. Ritchson's crash. After speaking with. the District Attorney's Office, Lieutenant Breedlove spoke with Ritchson. again. Ritchson reiterated that he did. not want to pursue or participate as a. victim or witness in any criminal. procedures. Lieutenant Breedlove told. Ritchson the investigation would be. closed without prosecution.

On March 24th, 2026, Lieutenant. Breedlove spoke with Taylor about the. incident. Taylor expressed regret and. admitted he made mistakes on March 22nd. He stated he wanted the media coverage. to end so he could return to his private. life. Lieutenant Breedlove told Taylor. the investigation would be closed. without prosecution. Based on the. reports, written statements, witness. videos, crime scene injury photos, and. the totality of the circumstances, this. investigation is closed by exception due. to Ritchson declining to participate in. prosecution. Okay. This is not.

surprising. Okay, big actor wants to. seemingly put this behind him. The video. coming out seemingly showing his side of. the story. What more does he need to do. here, right? From a PR point of view, he. may feel that the videos that are coming. out support his claim. He doesn't need. to take this to the court of law. He. doesn't need this to be prosecuted. And. as you can see, there are multiple. elements supporting this claim of. self-defense, his claim of self-defense, and not being the initial aggressor, as.

Taylor was accused of jumping in front. of him. And Taylor seemingly admitting. that he made mistakes. And Alan Ritchson. probably did not want this to go to. trial and amplify this and have this. publicized and be cross-examined about. his actions. And if you don't have a. cooperative key witness, a cooperative. alleged victim here, that's going to be. tough for prosecutors. They don't really. want to go forward. So, you can chalk. this up to a highly unfortunate. incident. Thank goodness everyone. appears to be somewhat okay, moving on.

from this. I don't believe, based on. what we just heard from law enforcement. and the current status of this, that, you know, Ronnie Taylor's going to file. some sort of lawsuit against Alan. Ritchson. Seems unlikely. And I'll just. say, look, as a personal note, it's just. sad that this happened. It was sad this. happened in front of kids. But. authorities say Ritchson was in the. right. And I will tell you, from point. of law, doesn't this show the importance of. having all the videotape in any. investigation to get to the bottom of.

what seemingly happened, particularly in. a self-defense case where time matters, where details matter. Because if there. was no video and it was just Taylor's. word against Alan Ritchson, could get. tricky. Could be a different kind of. case. Now, in the days after all this, in the days after this altercation, Alan. Ritchson posted an Instagram reel to. celebrate wrapping up production of. Reacher's latest season, saying, "Happy. to be back in the booth after such a. crazy week. That's a wrap for me on.

post-production, Reacher season 4. This. is, without a doubt, the most gripping. season yet. I think we hit our stride, firing on all cylinders, as it were. There you have it, everybody. And that's. all we have for you right now here on. Sidebar. Everybody, thank you so much. for joining us. And as always, please. subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, wherever you should get your. podcast. You can also check us out on. NBC's Peacock as well. If you want to. follow me, X, Instagram, my NewsNation. show, Jesse Weber live, Monday through. Friday, [music] 11:00 p.m. Eastern. I'll. see you next time, everybody.