Sisters arrested, police hurt in brawl at cruise-ship dock

Two women were arrested and booked on assault charges after they allegedly attacked police who responded to reports of a large brawl aboard an Argosy Cruises ship.

Seattle police were called to the Argosy Cruises dock on the Seattle waterfront around 1:30 a.m. Sunday after receiving reports of a melee involving more than 50 people aboard the Spirit of Seattle as it was returning from a cruise of Lake Union. When the ship docked, crew members ran toward the officers yelling, "We need your help!"

Seattle police said that when they moved in toward the dock they encountered a crowd that was "loud and raucous and showed obvious signs of intoxication," according to an affidavit of probable cause filed Monday to support holding the two woman in jail.

Maureen Black, marketing director for Argosy Cruises, later confirmed that alcohol had been served on the ship.

As officers approached the Spirit of Seattle they saw a 23-year-old woman, whom they identified as Taviona Amos, at the top of the gangway yelling and swearing. Several women were trying to escort her off the ship, but she held onto the railing, and refused to move, the affidavit said.

Amos' 29-year-old sister, identified as Tasha Amos, joined her. The two blocked others from getting off the ship and yelled and swore at officers, according to the affidavit.

After the women refused to move, officers pulled the women off the gangway. Tasha Amos jumped on an officer's back and grabbed his neck while her sister grabbed at a badge holder worn around the neck of a second officer, causing injuries to the officer's neck, the affidavit said.

After being arrested and booked, they were each ordered held in the King County Jail Monday on $5,000 bail.

The two officers were sent home early that morning as a result of their injuries, according to the affidavit.

Black said the passengers on board that night were part of a group that had booked Lake Union cruises in the past without any problems. She said the group had sold more than 400 tickets for a party and a three-hour tour.

"This is extremely unusual. Every once in a while you will have groups where somebody gets out of hand, but traditionally this kind of thing doesn't occur," Black said.

Argosy had private security aboard the ship Saturday, Black added.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com