A violent street fight on June 23, 2026, has sparked a major legal battle over police detention powers on Nantucket. The brawl broke out on the sidewalk of South Beach Street near a busy local shop.
While violent crime accounts for about 18% of the island's yearly offenses, weapon-based assaults are rare on these wealthy coastal avenues. The unusual violence has kept local residents closely watching the case.
The immediate fallout?
Judge James Sullivan eased pretrial restrictions for Downer after reviewing street footage of the fight, though the underlying felony charges still stand.
Downer no longer has to wear a GPS ankle tracker during his daily delivery routes. The court also returned his $2,500 cash bail, releasing him on personal recognizance. However, a strict stay-away order remains in place, keeping both men separated outside of court.
Why the motion to dismiss failed?
Defense attorney Rob Moriarty tried to get the case thrown out, arguing that police held Downer overnight without a prompt arraignment during active court hours. But Judge Sullivan denied the dismissal, ruling that the booking fell within the statutory 24-hour limit and noting that officers needed time to interview multiple witnesses.
What the video shows?
Security footage shows Andre Hamilton blindsiding Downer near the South Beach Street ferry docks, punching him repeatedly in the back of the head. Downer reacted by striking back with a pocketknife.
The defense calls it textbook self-defense, and the visual evidence was enough to strip away Downer's bail and GPS tracker.
Still, the Nantucket Police Department faces scrutiny over the arrest timeline. Moriarty accused officers of bypassing the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights by delaying Downer's courtroom presentation.
"His right to a prompt arraignment was denied," Moriarty argued during the morning hearing.
Assistant District Attorney Aine Dillon countered that island logistics often delay court sessions beyond standard mainland timelines. Moriarty fired back, noting that all court personnel were physically present in the building that afternoon. The legal debate over the 1993 Jenkins precedent will likely dominate the lead-up to the trial.
Both men are scheduled back in court on August 3, 2026, as co-defendants.
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