Four people are facing charges in an alleged fight in downtown Salem that left a Woburn woman with a concussion, cuts and bruises, and lost teeth Saturday night.

Police responded to the area outside The Village Tavern on Essex Street around 1 a.m. for a report of a fight, according to the statement of facts on the case from the Salem Police Department. When police arrived, they found two women involved in an altercation – Amanda Ricko and a female victim left unnamed, but identified by 7 News and NBC10 as Jayda Byrne.

The fight reportedly started when Xavier Negron allegedly began chasing William Martines and “punching him in the face” outside the restaurant. Angel Negron, Xavier’s father, also allegedly punched Martines, police said, based off video footage and what witnesses told them.


That’s when Xavier Negron allegedly assaulted Byrne.

“Negron viciously slammed the victim’s head into the pavement,” police said. “At this point, Ricko was witnessed kicking this victim while the victim was on the ground. A third female victim got assaulted after she attempted to cover up the victim while Negron and Ricko attacked the victim.”

Byrne, who’s studying nursing at Salem State University, told 7 News that she was walking to her car with a friend when she was allegedly pulled into the altercation.

“I just blacked out and I just remember getting up and I spit my teeth in my hand,” she told the news station. “These people just randomly started something – I don’t know how I ended up getting involved in it.”

As officers approached the fight, William Martines, Byrne’s friend, allegedly shoved an officer in the chest.

“I saw her face and it was all bloody,” he told 7 News. “I was just trying to protect her.”

Martines then allegedly resisted being put in handcuffs and it took two officers to do it. He’s being charged with assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and violating a city ordinance, the police’s statement says.


Ricko also allegedly tried to resist being handcuffed. She’s being charged with two counts of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon – shod foot, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest, according to the statement.

Xavier Negron was arrested. He’s being charged with two counts of assault and battery, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon – the ground, the statement said.

Angel Negron is to face two counts of assault and battery via a summons, according to the statement.