Mother demands answers after daughter punched at Detroit skating rink

Man seen throwing punch charged

DETROIT – A man faces charges in connection to a fight that was captured on video Saturday night at the Northland Roller Skating Rink.

The man is charged with aggravated assault and assault and battery after video shows him getting into a fight with a teen and her brother.

The teen's mother has been demanding answers after her daughter was punched during the heated exchange at the roller rink.

Tyzha Swift, 17, first showed Local 4 pictures of how her face looked Saturday night, just hours after a fight at the Detroit skating rink. Five days later she said her right eye is still a little tender.

"It's still swollen," Swift said.

The Northland Roller Rink is on Eight Mile Road at Lahser Road.

Swift said she, her brother and some friends were getting ready to leave the rink when a very aggressive security guard told her to get out.

"The security guard was walking up to us, and grabbed me by my arm and he was like, 'Leave,'" Swift said. "I was like, 'Why do you want me to leave? I'm waiting on my brother.'"

Swift said a few more words were exchanged. Her brother was pushed to the ground and then Swift said she blacked out for about two minutes. She then called her mom.

Tyletha Williams said it's hard for her to even watch the video.

"I was angry. I was hurt and angry," Williams said.

Williams said she got to her daughter five minutes after the incident happened, but got no cooperation from rink management or police who were there on duty.

"In my opinion, I think Northland should be closed down, but I would definitely like for the people of the establishment to be held accountable," said Williams.


About the Author:

You can watch Kimberly Gill weekdays anchoring Local 4 News at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. and streaming live at 10 p.m. on Local 4+. She's an award-winning journalist who finally called Detroit home in 2014. Kim has won Regional Emmy Awards, and was part of the team that won the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast in 2022.