Jamesons Pub defends bouncers after video shows them punching patron

[Temporary_User]

http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/114...on-repeatedly/

A fairly graphic image is in the link so may be NSFW.

A Calgary pub is defending the actions of its staff after a video surfaced of two bouncers pinning a man and repeatedly punching him in the head.

Steve Kelly, a manager at the pub, said the patron at the centre of the skirmish had been acting unruly and “sucker-punched” a bouncer on two separate occasions.
After the first punch, the man, identified by one witness as Jim, was kicked out of the establishment, but returned and levelled a second blow on the same staff member, according to Kelly.
“Everything was handled accordingly on our end,” Kelly said. “We never condone it (punching a patron) but listen, you know, at the end of the day, our guys were the ones who were attacked.”


Witnesses, however, raised concerns about the amount of force used by the pub’s staff.

[StrykerSteve]

This is another example where once the guy is down, enough is enough. To continue pummelling him at that point is purely assault, in my opinion.

[Tyler]

It's pretty easy to take a step back and criticize people when you're not the one being attacked or sucker punched.

[underGRADFlame]

When the head bleeds, it bleeds a lot. Not saying they are justified just saying that the picture in the paper makes it look like a blood bath.

From the story the bar puts forward the guys lucky it wasn't worse. I can't say I've hung out in the clubs and bars downtown in a long time, so maybe things have changed, but much like dealing with the police, it's real easy not to get your @ss kicked by bouncers.

[getbak]

Jameson's released this statement:



If that's all true, it's hard to feel sorry for the guy.

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by getbak

Jameson's released this statement:






If that's all true, it's hard to feel sorry for the guy.

I like that they supported them and posted the surveillance footage. Hopefully the guy feels like an idiot.

[undercoverbrother]

I would giggle if he sued them for over service.

[Dion]

“We never condone it (punching a patron) but listen, you know, at the end of the day, our guys were the ones who were attacked.”

I see that 2 wrongs make a right in this case of the bar owner. Idiot punches bouncer so it's okay to punch back.

I get the guy was a complete idot but surely the 2 bouncers could have held him down until the police arrived.

[Northendzone]

Meh, if you go around sucker punching bouncers, you are going to get bounced.......pro-tip don't go to a bar and be a jackass with the ladies, unless you enjoy a good old fashioned thumping........

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by Dion

I see that 2 wrongs make a right in this case of the bar owner. Idiot punches bouncer so it's okay to punch back.

I get the guy was a complete idot but surely the 2 bouncers could have held him down until the police arrived.

ya, it's called self defence. from what Jameson's released, if true (which the cops seem to have accepted so I am too), they thought the guy might have a knife. Better believe I'd be punching that guy a few times til I could get him in a position of restraint. plus as has been mentioned before, I think that photo posted makes it look much worse than it is, a small cut on the forehead would easily produce that much blood, one of the tricks they use in WWE is to cut just above the eye cuz it will bleed like crazy for dramatic effect.

[Dion]

But the video clearly shows two men beating a person who appears helpless — leading to the question of what point justifiable force crosses the line to assault.

Calgary’s police are so far on the side of the bouncers, saying a full review of Jamesons security video backs up their story of a customer looking for trouble — and the say if any charges are laid, they will likely be against the customer, rather than the doormen.

But those who witnessed the beating say whatever caused it, the consequences went way too far.

“The guy was helpless,” said Kandola.

Marakis said the man was restrained by his friends, but he continued to utter threats, saying he planned to come back, and that he planned to hurt the bouncers — a knife being mentioned at some point, along with a threat to stab the doorman.

“These were dangerous threats and I fault my own guys for not phoning police at that instant, because that’s what they should have done,” said Marakis, who says his door staff are trained and certified.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/09/03...-unruly-patron

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Dion

I see that 2 wrongs make a right in this case of the bar owner. Idiot punches bouncer so it's okay to punch back.

I get the guy was a complete idIot but surely the 2 bouncers could have held him down until the police arrived.

Yes, they could have only restrained him. However, when your life has been verbally threatened it is human nature to keep going until the threat has been neutralized. Personal safety tends to take precedence over legality.

[Arya Stark]

If the allegations are true then he deserved it but hard to take a bouncers words at face value.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Reaper

Yes, they could have only restrained him. However, when your life has been verbally threatened it is human nature to keep going until the threat has been neutralized. Personal safety tends to take precedence over legality.

As the owner stated, his guys should have phoned the police when the idiot first uttered threats of coming back with a knife.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Dion

As the owner stated, his guys should have phoned the police when the idiot first uttered threats of coming back with a knife.

I'm not arguing that they shouldn't have. Hindsight is 20-20 but when a threat immediately presents itself instinct tends to take over. There's not much opportunity to hop in a time machine to go back and do the right thing.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Reaper

I'm not arguing that they shouldn't have. Hindsight is 20-20 but when a threat immediately presents itself instinct tends to take over. There's not much opportunity to hop in a time machine to go back and do the right thing.

You have 2 burly bouncers taking down 1 guy who is quite drunk. They had him pinned to the ground and then they got their punches in. How is the idot a threat when he was pinned to the ground? He wasn't and the punches were not necessary.

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by Dion

You have 2 burly bouncers taking down 1 guy who is quite drunk. They had him pinned to the ground and then they got their punches in. How is the idot a threat when he was pinned to the ground? He wasn't and the punches were not necessary.

Have you ever fought a drunk before? or anyone? quite often they will keep swinging and fighting even from the ground. One good swing and he has a chance to get back up and start doing damage again possibly with a knife as he threatened.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Dion

You have 2 burly bouncers taking down 1 guy who is quite drunk. They had him pinned to the ground and then they got their punches in. How is the idot a threat when he was pinned to the ground? He wasn't and the punches were not necessary.

is that your opinion or do you speak from experience?

Trust me if someone is drunk and/or full of drugs - it ain't easy even for a couple of burly guys

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Dion

You have 2 burly bouncers taking down 1 guy who is quite drunk. They had him pinned to the ground and then they got their punches in. How is the idIot a threat when he was pinned to the ground? He wasn't and the punches were not necessary.

I never said the punches were necessary. Read my first post.

I was empathizing with how it is easy to cross the line when threatened with being stabbed with a knife.

You strike me as someone who claims the police should have shot the person in the leg instead of the centre of mass whenever there is a police shooting.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Swarly

Have you ever fought a drunk before?

Yeah. They're mostly harmless and not a threat to two big sober guys used to physical stuff.