Man Charged In Fishtown Assault Amid 2020 Racial Protests

PHILADELPHIA — A man who previously served prison time for fatally punching someone was just charged in connection with an assault on protesters amid last summer's unrest, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.

District Attorney Larry Krasner said Richard "Richie" Goodwin, 45, was and charged for his role in an assault during a confrontation last summer in the Fishtown neighborhood amid racial justice uprisings.

The alleged assault occurred near the 26th Philadelphia Police District, at Berks and Girard Avenue, on June 1, 2020, amid a widely and nationally reported violent confrontation between numerous unarmed Black Lives Matter supporters and people wielding bats and axes.

Following an investigation by the District Attorney’s Office Special Investigations Unit, Goodwin was charged on Wednesday with simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, both misdemeanors.

On the evening of June 1, 2020, the victim and a companion were riding their bikes home to Fishtown after participating in a Black Lives Matter protest in Center City.

At the time, Goodwin and a group of men — several armed with baseball bats, hammers, and more — were facing off on Girard Avenue opposite BLM protesters.

As the couple were cycling by, the complainant raised his fist in an apparent show of solidarity with neighbors protesting for police accountability.

Several individuals from the group purportedly armed to "protect" the 26th District police began throwing water bottles at the complainant, and shouting threats toward him.

Goodwin is alleged to have run at the complainant before assaulting him, the DA's office said.

At least two bystanders attempted to intervene as Goodwin punched the complainant, according to the DA's office.

Goodwin, a Navy veteran whose brother is a police officer in the 26th District, was convicted of manslaughter following a drunken fistfight with a man in June 2008, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He was also convicted of DUI while on probation in 2012, serving four years in prison.

Photos taken by witnesses of parts of the attack were shared with news outlets and with the Special Investigations Unit.

This case is the second opened by the DA's office in connection with the incidents of June 1, 2020, near the 26th Police District in Fishtown.

Members of the public who wish to provide information about possible criminal incidents related to that day, or simply wish to report possible crimes to the DA's Special Investigations Unit directly, may do so via DAO_SIU@phila.gov or 215-686-9608.