Man Who Police Say Sparked Newport Wedding Melee Drops Name of Top Politician

Man Who Police Say Sparked Newport Wedding Melee Drops Name of Top Politician

Prior to the Newport wedding melee breaking out, an incident took place at The Newport Landing Restaurant between Barrington resident David Onik and the staff of The Landing.

Staff at the restaurant called Newport Police.

When the Newport Police arrived early in the morning on September 10 at Bowen’s Wharf, they detained David Onik — he ultimately would be charged with disorderly conduct.

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He is a business partner in a pet food company with Marc and David Perlman, the owners of Ocean State Job Lot. The company is named Priority Pet Products. Marc Perlman, the CEO of Job Lot, also serves as President of Priority Food Products. David Onik is the Treasurer of the pet company.

A newly released body cam video secured by GoLocal through an Access to Public Records Act request recorded David Onik and his wife, Rachel Onik, telling the police that they were going to call David Onik's father — a prominent businessman — as well as call former Congressman David Cicilline.

 

 

Video - Call My Dad, Call David

The detention of David Onik was the first incident in a melee that led to six arrests and included the assault on multiple police officers.

One of the officers was punched multiple times in the face by another member of the wedding party. Robert Nash, 30, of Marshfield, Massachusetts, is facing felony assault charges. Nash can be seen in one of the videos repeatedly punching Newport Police Sergeant Stephen Carrig in the face. Carrig reported that he had his nose broken and sustained other injuries.

Another video shows the bride of the wedding -- Kylie Swain, 28 of South Weymouth, MA -- striking another Newport Police officer. SEE VIDEO HERE

The newly released video unveils David and Rachel telling a Newport Police Officer that David is being unfairly detained and that they are going to make phone calls.

As the body camera footage begins and Newport Police are interviewing members of The Landing staff outside of the camera view, David Onik repeatedly says, "I didn't do anything." SEE VIDEO ABOVE

At one point, a Newport Police Officer asks Rachel Onik for her name, and she refuses. 1:00.

Then, before David Onik is "detained "by Newport Police, his wife says she is going to call “Cicilline.” 1:36

“Yea, my Dad, call David [Cicilline],” said David Onik. 1:39

Rachel then says she is calling “Konnie” — a reference to Konstantin Onik, her father-in-law who was a top director at Ocean State Job Lot.

The senior Onik is also a business partner with Marc Perlman — in another company K & M Investment, LLC.

The ties between the Oniks go back years with David Cicilline, the former state representative, former Providence Mayor and former Congressman.

Campaign financial reports show that Konstantin Onik donated $5,000 to Cicilline’s campaigns. Then, on May 10, 2010, the Cicilline state committee refunded $1,400 to Konstantin Onik, and he made a $1,400 donation to Cicilline’s federal campaign committee for Congress. And, a month later he donated another $1,000 to Cicilline.

Today, Cicilline serves as the head of the Rhode Island Foundation.

A separate video that GoLocal secured via an APRA request appears to show Rachel Onik reaching for police officers' guns. A Newport Police officer swung and hit Onik, knocking her out. 

Presently, Rachel Onik is facing two counts of simple assault, one count of resisting arrest, one count of obstructing an officer and one count of disorderly conduct.