Sheriff's deputies were called to the Richmond County Coliseum Authority meeting this morning after witnesses said a fight broke out between authority member William Fennoy and community activist Woody Merry.

According to a Chronicle reporter who witnessed the altercation, the argument began outside the conference room at James Brown Arena just before the Coliseum Authority meeting was scheduled to start at 9 a.m.

Mr. Merry repeatedly asked Mr. Fennoy why he wasn't at an authority meeting on Tuesday.

"You need to get out of my face," Mr. Fennoy said in reply. He also called Mr. Merry a "redneck".

The argument spilled into the conference room where Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Merry continued to argue face-to-face.

"I feel threatened. I will defend myself," Mr. Merry said more than once before shoving Mr. Fennoy with two hands.

Mr. Fennoy pushed back, and Mr. Merry fell to the floor. Mr. Fennoy then kicked at Mr. Merry before other Coliseum Authority members intervened.

A Richmond County sheriff's deputy was called to the scene, and Coliseum Authority members voted for a three-minute recess to allow Mr. Fennoy to give a police report.

Before that meeting began, Mr. Merry made a statement to the Coliseum Authority members and the media.

"I apologize for my rudeness," he said. "I said I'd defend myself three times."

Mr. Fennoy did not speak to the media immediately after the incident.

Mr. Merry later spoke with an investigator at the Richmond County Sheriff's Office about the incident, according to Maj. Ken Autry.

He said its likely both men will have a pre-arrest hearing in front of a magistrate judge to determine whether any warrants will be issued.

"They will have a hearing and both of them will go in and tell their side of the story to the judge and he'll decide if a warrant is issued at that time," Maj. Autry told The Chronicle.

The charge will likely be simple battery if it is issued, he said.

When the meeting resumed, board members discussed rehiring former facilities director Julie Huggins. However, after several motions, a vote to not rehire her passed 6-5.

Reach Sylvia Cooper at 706-823-3228 or sylvia.cooper@augustachronicle.com