South Beach Bouncers Arrested After Beating of Club Patrons
In South Beach Night Clubs, fights are a daily occurrence. But what happened at CLUB MANSION stepped over the legal line. 11 bouncers were detained, and 8 were arrested after beating up three University of Delaware students over the weekend in a dispute over a $700 bill! In Miami Beach for spring break, Sean Sweeney, Trevor Costello and John Merryman were "knocked to the ground and struck upon the head and body with closed fists, kicked via feet and held down" according to a police report.
The Opium Group who now runs the former site of DISCOS' CLUB Z and 1235, as CLUB MANSION released the following statement,"We are continuing to work closely with police regarding these unsubstantiated claims and cannot comment further as the police have not concluded their investigation". Unfortunately for them, the whole episode was captured on surveillance video.
According to Fort Lauderdale lawyer Kevin Dennis, (who undoubtedly will become, along with the three young men, the new owners of the club) the young men asked to sit in the VIP section and bought a bottle of alcohol, as required. After two hours, their waitress told them they had to give up their table for other customers. Then they were told that their tab for the vodka was $700. Surprised by the amount, they asked twice to see a bill. Twice they were refused.
At this time, they were"escorted" into a back room, which was packed with bouncers.When they refused to pay their tab without seeing a bill, CLUB MANSION'S employees turned violent. According to the police report, bouncer Jex Fontaine threw the first punch, sparking the brawl. "they started pounding the boys," said Dennis. Sweeney, a former University of Delaware football defensive end, was taken to the floor in a choke-hold. After getting beaten and kicked, he passed out. The bouncers then went to work on Merryman and Costello. Ultimately they paid the $700. Costello and Sweeney were allowed to leave, but the bouncers weren't finished with Merryman. Refusing to leave without their friend, they all got another round of beatings. Finally the students were able to escape, and landed into the waiting arms of the police.
Fontaine faces Aggravated battery charges. Also charged with battery were Anthony Batts, Matthew Pichardo, Eric DaSilva, Diego Bustos, Andre Robinson, Juan Pagan-Soto and Manuel Gaston. The police haven't charged Antonio Marshall, Jason Nieves, and Orlando Hernandez yet, but it is believed that further charges are pending.
All three victims were treated for their injuries at a local hospital, and are now back in school. According to their lawyer Dennis,"This is one of those places that it costs $30 to get in, but a heck of a lot more to get out!!
While these type of disputes have always been around, in today's DISCOS, the added security of Cameras and video surveillance make it possible for victims to fight back, through the legal system. After these "thugs" are prosecuted and convicted, I expect that the CIVIL law suit that will follow, could mean an end to CLUB MANSION. We will keep you posted.
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