Reggae singer Frederick "Toots" Hibbert was rushed to the hospital after being hit with a projectile bottle Saturday evening during a reggae concert that was stopped early because of the incident.
Toots received a laceration to the head at about 10:15 p.m. during the Doiminion Riverrock concert in Richmond, Va, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Police said Hibbert, the leader of Toots and the Maytals, was hit with a vodka bottle. The singer was later released from the hospital at 1 a.m. Sunday.
Richmond police identified the suspected bottle thrower as a 19-year-old Henrico County resident. He was charged with aggravated assault and public intoxication. Police are investigating how he acquired the bottle, since bags are checked upon entry to the venue and no glass bottles are allowed, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported The police discovered that a vodka bottle was missing from the bar at the festival, according to workers and Jack Berry, executive director of Venture Richmond, producers of the event.
"We believe it was stolen from the mixed-beverage sales area and not brought in from the outside," Berry said. He said beer, wine, vodka and bourbon are served at the venue but are poured in to plastic cups before being served for consumption.
Festival manager Steven Licky told the newspaper that Hibbert was in good spirits upon returning to his hotel after his hospital treatment. He seemed to have no fear of the area, was grateful towards Richmond and said he would return, according to Licky. The singer was struck while performing a rendition of "Country Roads."
"He was lucid. He was laughing," Licky said. "He was tired obviously. He had had a very long day.... He was one of the nicest men I ever met."
