03/13/2006
REPORT: Man Beaten by Security and Police at West Hollywood Bar
I received a disturbing email today about an alleged incident that took place at Here lounge in West Hollywood on Saturday. Seth Hartsfield-Price was reportedly beaten by security and the West Hollywood Sheriff's Department. Here are the details:
"Security was herding people out of the bar at closing this Saturday night. As Seth was leaving, he could only walk out as fast as the people in front of him. One of here’s security guards shoved him to try and make him move faster but Seth ignored it. When security pushed him again, Seth turned and told the guard not to push him again. The guard then grabbed Seth by the throat and arm and shoved him into the wall. When Seth tried to get away from him, the guard punched him in the head.
The rest of security then jumped in and roughed him up more. The cops didn’t do a thing until another patron yelled at them to do something. When the police did take over, they also took over knocking his head into the sidewalk and kicking him. When Seth asked the officer why he was doing this he was told 'Because I fucking hate you. You are lucky I didn’t kick your teeth in.'"
Anyone who may have been present as a witness is being asked to fax information to 323-460-4316 or email jack(at)tigerla.com
UPDATE: Because this remains an "alleged" incident, I think it's important to not jump to conclusions. I received an email from a witness last night who perceived the incident differently. Here is part of that email (which was forwarded to the address above):
"First and foremost, security did not 'beat' him. They were trying to keep him under control as he recklessly trampled through the crowd. I even heard a security guard say 'calm down.' He got away from them and ran through for the exit whereupon security chased him out. West Hollywood Sheriff's Deputies saw him running from security and also tried to stop him. He fell in the street and again on the sidewalk where they ended up detaining him. From what I witnessed, Mr. Hartsfield-Price appeared to be inebriated...I am not positively saying that something wrong and unjust did not occur. The pictures of Mr. Hartsfield-Price certainly attest to certain injuries that were sustained that night. From my vantage point however, those bruises most likely came from his falling down, running through a crowd, falling again in the street and resisting law enforcement officers. Again, and I can't stress this enough, Here Lounge security as well as police were doing their job by trying to peaceably detain an unruly person."
UPDATE 2: Tom Whitman, the promoter of the event at Here Lounge, has sent out an email in response to this incident, which is printed in full after the jump.
EMAIL DISTRIBUTED BY TOM WHITMAN
There was an incident at the end of the night (near 2 am) on Saturday outside of here lounge and Hamburger Haven involving a guest, security and the Sheriff's Department.
Differing accounts, stories and emails about what happened have been flying around for the past two days.
According to the guest, he was roughed up by security on the way out. According to security, the guest was aggressive and pushed and tried to hit one of them. According to some witnesses, the guest was drunk or otherwise under the influence.
I did not witness the incident because I was inside the club, so I can't speak to it firsthand. When the Sheriff's report is released it will clarify what happened with them. But I will say this:
1) There is almost always a way to get a customer, belligerent or otherwise, out of the bar without coercive force. I say "almost" because even in gay bars, when people get drunk or high, they act in sometimes violent and unpredictable ways. Security is there to protect the person who is intoxicated as well as the people around him.
2) There is never a reason for undue force from security. If someone is acting violent or inappropriate or doing something illegal the job of security is to restrain a person and get them outside of the venue, at which point they are either released to the appropriate officials (like the Sheriff) or on their own recognizance for less serious matters.
3) I can speak to the procedures that the security at here lounge are instructed to use - and it is always to safeguard customers and create a safe environment for everyone. They are never there to punish or harass anyone - they have a vested interest in keeping the clients happy and therefore keeping their jobs. Also, they know that they can treat the gay clientele far more gently than they might another demographic. That said, they are they to protect EVERYONE, including the people around a belligerent person as well as a belligerent person.
4) I can't speak to the Sheriff Department's behavior, since I did not witness it, but I can speak to their seemingly good relationship with our community. They certainly have experience working with gay nightclubs, and I personally have never experienced a violence problem with them in the past five years of doing gay events in West Hollywood. Like I said, I did not witness what happened, and certainly a good record does not guarantee good behavior, but they do have a pretty good history as far as I have experienced. Though we don't live in a perfect world, I feel safer being gay in West Hollywood than almost anywhere in the world.
5) There are different accounts of what happened. We have all seen the email from the partner of the guest. (I'm not using his name because it is not my place to reveal it.) But I have received unsolicited emails from people sharing a different story than that story, including the following.
--
(An unsolicited email from a person not affiliated with here lounge or Tom Whitman Presents.)
Here is my account of the events as I witnessed. While I wish to do the right thing, I would prefer that my identity be protected as much as possible as I do not wish to suffer any backlash personally from this incident.
Here is what I wrote to Jack on his request for information:
Jack-
I happened to be at Here Lounge this past Saturday, March 11 until it closed and would like to provide you with a version of events as I witnessed them. While it is unfortunate that Mr. Hartsfield-Price got hurt, I honestly believe the allegations posted on mindfoldla.com to be largely embellished to the point of utter fabrication. Here is what I witnessed:
First and foremost, security did not "beat" him. They were trying to keep him under control as he recklessly trampled through the crowd. I even heard a security guard say "calm down." He got away from them and ran through for the exit whereupon security chased him out. West Hollywood Sheriff's Deputies saw him running from security and also tried
to stop him. He fell in the street and again on the sidewalk where they ended up detaining him. From what I witnessed, Mr. Hartsfield-Price appeared to be inebriated. His uncooperative behavior with the police only confirms this.
I happen to know several of the security force at Here Lounge. They have taken care of me several times by calling me cabs when I did not feel able to drive. In fact, I make it a point to talk to them and say hello every time I visit. In my estimation, they are not the "beating kind." Nor does it seem likely that Sheriff's Deputies would maliciously beat a man, right in front of Hamburger Hamlet with more than 50 people watching from the other side of the street.
I am not positively saying that something wrong and unjust did not occur. The pictures of Mr. Hartsfield-Price certainly attest to certain injuries that were sustained that night. From my vantage point however, those bruises most likely came from his falling down, running through a crowd, falling again in the street and resisting law enforcement officers. Again, and I can't stress this enough, Here Lounge security as well as police were doing their job by trying to peaceably detain an unruly person.
Sincerely,
- name withheld by Tom Whitman because of the first paragraph of this letter-
--
(this is from one of the promoters working on Saturday, who was near the door, as part of his job.)
Towards the end of the evening after last call, when the security officers were clearing the patrons out of the bar, everything seemed to be going as smoothly as usual. Then I noticed one of the security officers, I believe it was Reggie, but I was not 100% sure as I was behind him, escorting Seth out of the bar. I could see Seth clearly as he was facing me. Very quickly, it seemed to turn somewhat violent as I saw Seth resisting the security officer, pushing him and trying to get away. As they neared the front gate, the security officer pushed Seth up against the fence, with complete justification as he was only doing his job in trying to restrain a belligerent patron. Seth then attempted to strike the officer and get away. At this point the officer took Seth out of the front gates of the club in the throng of people and out onto Roberston Blvd. I did not see anything further, as there were too many people around. I walked up towards SMB and home.
This is a very sticky situation as Seth is a friend, but I feel I must be honest in this situation. In my interactions with Seth during the night, it's my opinion that he was very intoxicated which probably lead to some poor decisions on his part. In my interactions with Reggie and the rest of the security team in my time as both a patron of Here Bar and most recently a promoter, they are nothing but professional, caring, and on top of their job. In the past two weeks promoting for Here Bar, I have somewhat come to know the officers. I can saw with 100% certainty that the officers would NEVER act without provocation. Additionally, the officer did not strike Seth or do anything more than escort him out until Seth made the first strike, as far as I saw.
Lastly, in my 11 years living in LA, I have always found the West Hollywood Sheriffs and local bouncers to be nothing but friendly, supportive of the community, and professional. There are not many Sheriff's stations in this city where you can walk right in or call and get the help you need.
Written by Jeremy Gordon on March 13, 2006
--
Regardless of the details, there is something wrong with what happened on Saturday. There should not even be the appearance of undue force from security. Not only do I want there to be actual safety created by security, there should also be the appearance of safety. An incident where even a few people think that there was undue use of force makes us all feel less safe.
I will continue to work to make sure that not only is security creating a safe place for everyone, but as much as possible, when there is an incident, it should be as clear as possible that security is reacting in an appropriate way to preserve public safety. Not only should a venue be safe, it should also appear safe.
In the past five years, I like to think I have a pretty good track record of creating gay events with appropriate security, where security is there to protect the customers without being Big Brother. I try to create events where we as a community feel both comfortable AND secure. I will continue to try to improve on that. I don't want anyone, whether they are drunk and belligerent or sober and cooperative, to feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
Obviously some work needs to be done, and I will work to make sure that it happens.
And one last note. We have a duty to watchdog our public servants and our communal spaces, and none of us should forget that. But I hope that in the future, clearer heads will prevail in waiting for more information before everyone jumps on a bandwagon of gossip and rumor before waiting for the facts or both sides of a story. When we do that, we create fear in our community, and distrust between each other and with those we have entrusted to protect us.
I am always available to listen to comments about any of my events, and I promise to do my best to address any concerns. I take the safety and wellbeing of this community that I love very seriously. I am always available at events@tomwhitmanpresents.com.
Sincerely,
Tom Whitman
Posted 5:45 PM EST by Andy Towle in Current Affairs | Permalink
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Right on Andy -- so glad to see the site can be used not just for sharing info but for possibly really helping someone out. If everything really unfolded as the story reads, I sincerly hope witnesses come forward & let all those bitches have it.
Keep on keepin on!
Posted by: Shirley | Mar 13, 2006 6:02:26 PM
As ironic as this may sound, my personal experience with the WeHo Sheriff's department has shown them to be quite malicious towards the community they supposedly serve. That aside, I would advise Mr. Hartsfield-Price to seek legal counsel ASAP and not talk to the other parties involved except through such counsel. Times like this I wish I was a personal injury lawyer rather than a patent attorney.
Posted by: Dan | Mar 13, 2006 6:22:04 PM
dear andy....
i hope that other people come forward -- which they should considering the venue! it was ironic after reading this article (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/12/fashion/sundaystyles/12BOUNCERS.html) over the weekend. a shame that this occurred.....actually, it's more than a shame! it's utterly disgraceful considering the venue y tambien, si es verdad, es una problema que esos pendejos trabajan por la ciudad de los angeles....ahem -- diablos.
unfortunately, it happens in santa barbara county all the time.
Posted by: ricardo | Mar 13, 2006 6:24:32 PM
HERE security should be held as responsible as the Weho Sheriff's Dept... Can you say BOYCOTT!!!
Posted by: Mike | Mar 13, 2006 6:49:06 PM
I agree-- what in the world has Here got to say for themselves about this?
Despicable!
Posted by: honkybitch | Mar 13, 2006 7:02:09 PM
The WeHo Sheriff department is absolutely worthless. I got jumped leaving Fubar in West Hollywood with a friend and had a description guys who jumped me, their car and license plate number as well. I went to the Sheriff's station and waited alone in the lobby while I could hear them laughing it up in the back. I finally said "fuck it" and left. Sorry to say it, but you're on your own.
Posted by: Brian | Mar 13, 2006 7:15:37 PM
While I don't disagree that this incident could have happened, I still caution moderation. The Here Bar does have a history with their clientele. True some of the security staff are off-duty L.A. Police, but West Hollywood patrons late on a Saturday night with lots of booze in them and a certain sense of entitlement coming in contact with them is a recipe for disaster. I would, frankly, blame Here for not being more conscious of these facts.
Posted by: woodroad34 | Mar 13, 2006 7:20:39 PM
1) Boycott HERE
2) Thankfully this site can be used for good
3) This is why I am a huge proponent of police and sherrif....fire men and paramedics must and always should be by law residents of the area they work in or no job. Actual weho residents in the sherriffs dept doesn't quarentee kindness but it can help
PS Of all places!!!!!!! West hollywood was the 1st official american gay city!!!! Way before SF...and has more gays than SF per square foot......SF only beats out weho due to size
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Mar 13, 2006 7:53:22 PM
PS
Seth is cute.....and I would gladly nurse him back to health (trying to lighten the mood)
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Mar 13, 2006 7:54:23 PM
OKay, maybe this is beside the point, but that Seth guy is hot!
Posted by: robert | Mar 13, 2006 7:54:35 PM
This kind of behavior is what I'm hearing about the "security" there.
I've heard they also encourage straights to taunt gay people.
This is all happening in the heart of WeHo. I don't understand why we tolerate it at all.
Posted by: Rich | Mar 13, 2006 7:54:57 PM
Regardless of the Hartsfield-Price's (or any patron's) culpability in what woodroad34 describes above as "a recipe for disaster", unprovoked violence is not an appropriate response in this situation. Perhaps the victim was drunk and/or belligerent, perhaps not. But it's doubtful that he posed a significant enough threat to warrant such a beating and humiliation. The management of Here Lounge, the security staff on duty that night, the WH Sheriff's Dept, and the officers involved should all be made accountable for the incident, or at the very least respond to the allegations. Here's hoping that some of the witnesses or others present step forward to clarify actual events. Until then, I'll opt to spend my hard-earned dollars on overpriced cocktails elsewhere.
Posted by: Enrique | Mar 13, 2006 7:56:24 PM
It is highly unlikely that Seth was intoxicated that night. I happen to know both Seth (and his boyfriend Jack) and I know Seth was on his way to work when this incident occured (Seth works at an after-hours club across the street, which gets going at 3am). Hence I doubt he would have been an unruly drunk at 2am.
Posted by: Jim | Mar 13, 2006 7:58:36 PM
Jim, reading your comment pisses me off even more about this whole incident.
Posted by: Enrique | Mar 13, 2006 8:14:11 PM
I doubt they just did this for no reason. I winder what he did to provoke them? I am sure alcohol was a factor.
Posted by: the yankee | Mar 13, 2006 8:20:27 PM
"I doubt they just did this for no reason. I winder what he did to provoke them? I am sure alcohol was a factor." Yeah, he is gay and they were drunk with hate and power.
Posted by: Rich | Mar 13, 2006 8:30:01 PM
While we don't know the whole story I do want to say that even if Seth was drunk and unruly, does that mean a whole mess of perfectly sober security guards and police officers were right to jump in and take turns f*cking with him?
I mean, i'm sorry but if a partyer is being a drunk schmuck, you rather roughly escort him out, not publicly kick his ass.
So either way you look at this, it's unexcusable and I agree (god I love you Andy!) that Andy rocks for posting this considering how many of us gays frequent this site. Hopefully a witness of that night does as well and will come forward.
Posted by: Bobby Alexander | Mar 13, 2006 8:46:04 PM
I am good friends with both Seth and his partner. His partner who was not with him called me trying to get info from the West Hollywood Sheriff's Dept. who were not helpful at all. Seth was finally released after refusing to admit to hitting a cop. He let them know that as a former Marine he had the highest respect for authority.
All of his wounds were defensive in nature and and he was covered in cuts and bruises.
When he was released he was very shaken and trying to make sense of what happened to him. Alcohol was not the issue in this and no blood test or breathalyzer was administered. Seth, despite being a former Marine, is quite passive and kind. He simply asked not to be pushed and was met with the full force of a security guard who was joined by others. The police took it as an opportunity to "do their job" and ask questions later.
What has started happening in West Hollywood is a lot of the crowd from the Sunset Strip has started attending clubs like Here and The Abbey bringing with it the West Hollywood Police. A lot of these establishments in attempt to further profit, are changing their identity from "Gay" Establishments to "Gay Friendly" meaning the want straight clientele. There is slowly becoming a rift in the identity of the neighborhood where Gay's could feel comfortable going to a club and even checking out other guys. Now that the clubs are mixed, it creates a lot of tension and homophobia.
Apparently this security guard was not only offended that Seth stood up to his man handling of him, but he reacted to his request not to be pushed by directing quite violently his frustration and authority with unwarranted force.
Posted by: rob | Mar 13, 2006 8:47:01 PM
I don't know if this contributed to the attack on Seth, but many of the guys hired to work as "doormen" at Here Bar and The Abbey are over-juiced personal trainers by day. I have observed them being rude on many occasions to the patrons trying to get in. In addition, this part of Weho has become a major hetero destination. Here Bar can't support itself as a gay-only business and they're trying to lure straights down from the Sunset Strip. These two factors are making what was once a "safe" place for us--the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and Robertson--into an increasingly unfriendly place.
Posted by: Joe | Mar 13, 2006 8:50:31 PM
Two words:
Civil.
Suit.
Go for it, Seth.
Posted by: Brian | Mar 13, 2006 8:53:39 PM
The most recent comments are interesting. It just so happens that Saturday night was Popular, the second week of what is supposed to be the gays reclaiming HERE as their own...
Here is the direct quote from the flyer: We've taken West Hollywood and Here back. Robertson Blvd is our turf and we're not giving it back. Lines around the block. This is stupid fun in the middle of West Hollywood for boyz and those who like dancing with 'em. Bring it.
Posted by: Lano | Mar 13, 2006 9:20:22 PM
The politics of gentrification--and changing nightlife demographics of Robertson Ave--aside, those of us who were not directly affected by the events of Saturday night but were disturbed or angered by it should voice our dissatisfaction with the parties involved. In the case of Here, if it's the language of dollars and cents that they understand, then hit them where it hurts: spread the word to not patronize the establishment. In the case of the WH Sheriff's Dept, there have got to be some options available to us to voice our concerns. (Political action is not my forte; So, I have no suggestions here and am open to hear from others.) I really hope that Seth pursues some type of action. The intolerance that's at the root of this incident is unacceptable. As a community, we all have a responsibility to speak up and act.
Posted by: Enrique | Mar 13, 2006 9:21:38 PM
Let's boycott the police.
Posted by: Chad Hanging | Mar 13, 2006 9:44:47 PM
The war has begun...
Posted by: Bryan | Mar 13, 2006 9:52:25 PM
When I was in WeHo this past October/November, both of the Friday nights we tried to go to Here Lounge, my partner and our friend were not allowed in because they were private hetero-only parties. This would have been fine if it wouldn't have been for the fact that the two weekends they were private parties surrounded the West Hollywood Halloween Party, one of the biggest attractions in L.A. What the hell is Here Lounge doing having private straight-only parties during one of our times of celebration?
I agree, hit 'em where it hurts the most: in the wallet.
Posted by: Tread | Mar 13, 2006 10:02:32 PM