[David]

A 6'5, 350 lb. New York City bouncer was killed trying to enforce their new "no smoking" law!

Here is a link to the story:

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/73386.htm

:eek: :rolleyes: :uhoh: :scrutiny: :what: :(

[Azrael256]

The 6-foot-5, 350-pound Blake grabbed Johnathan by the neck and dragged him toward the exit, but Chan fought back, O'Looney said. His brother Ching joined the scuffle, as did another man and a woman, who jumped onto Blake's back, he said. There is more to this. First, a bouncer grabbing somebody by the neck is a REALLY bad idea. I am interested to see the stats on these brothers. If we're talking about a 150lb 5'6" that was grabbed by the neck by a 6'5" 350lb bouncer... well... Also, who are this other "man and a woman?" Were they with the Chan brothers, or just hanging around? That would determine a whole lot. There is a great deal of this story that is left out.

[WonderNine]

Someone grabs me by the neck, they're gonna get a knuckle sandwich.

[Hal]

O'Looney?!?!?!

The police spokesman,,,, is named,,,,, O'Looney?!?!

Ahh, come on. This is all a sham isn't it?

(I swear these media peolpe sit around and make this stuff up)

[GinSlinger]

I have worked in the bar industry for several years and I can tell you that putting hands on a patron is just about the worst thing you can do. If you cannot diffuse a situation than you need to find a new job. I have seperated two groups of bikers who were upset over the flying of different flags and didn't have to touch one person. I have disarmed a knife wielding psycho who just walked in off the street one night. We even had a gun pulled in our bar once. Size helps to get peoples attention (I'm 6'2" 200lbs) but it should not be the first or even second approach to conflict. Stories like this make me very upset. I learned long ago that if I called my "bouncers" door men we got fewer bullys applying for the job.....Sorry about the rant, but this "bouncer" clearly elevated this situation.

GinSlinger

[12GA]

Someone plunged a knife into Blake's stomach, and the fighting spilled onto the street, witnesses said.

Update: The injury might not have been caused by a knife.

DA's Office Won't Press Charges (http://www.syracuse.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?n0407_BC_NY--SmokingBan-Stabbi&&news&nystatenews)

DA's office won't press charges against suspects in bar fatality

The Associated Press
4/15/03 10:31 AM


NEW YORK (AP) -- The Manhattan district attorney's office has declined to press charges against two men arrested in the death of a nightclub bouncer who police said was trying to enforce the city's new smoking ban.

Police officials announced the decision early Tuesday after an investigation into the fatal injury of Dana Blake, 32, who died about 11 hours after a fight Sunday morning at Guernica, a club on Avenue B in the East Village.

"There are facts and circumstances that we are still investigating," said district attorney's spokeswoman Barbara Thompson.

Police had arrested two brothers, Jonathan Chan, 29, and Ching Chan, 31, shortly after the fight on charges of assault, criminal possession of a weapon and resisting arrest.

Investigators initially believed Blake was stabbed in a fight with the brothers, but the medical examiner's office now is trying to determine whether he may have been cut by a piece of glass from a broken bottle, police said.

The medical examiner's office said Blake's death resulted from a "sharp force injury of groin with injuries to major blood vessels" and was ruled a homicide, the classification used for any death resulting even indirectly from human action. Doctors' efforts to patch the wound have complicated efforts to determine exactly what caused the injury, investigators said.

No weapon was recovered at the scene and there were no witnesses to the exact moment Blake was injured, police said.

Neither the brothers nor their attorneys could immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

According to police, Blake approached the men about 2:30 a.m. Sunday to tell them they could not smoke in the bar.

Police spokesman Michael O'Looney said witnesses told police that harsh words were exchanged and the brawl began when Blake tried to eject Jonathan Chan for disorderly behavior. A third man and a woman, identified as the brothers' older sister, then intervened.

Jonathan Chan works as a stockbroker, while Ching Chan, who is known as Alan, is a medical student at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in the Bronx.

The smoking ban, pushed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, took effect late last month. It covers all workplaces, including bars and small restaurants. Owners whose establishments violate the ban can be fined or have their licenses suspended.

Tony Blake, the victim's older brother, said Sunday he blamed the death on the smoking ban.

"I'm very bitter," he said. "It's a senseless murder because of this stupid cigarette law. That's the reason this guy was killed."

Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[QKRTHNU]

"sharp force injury of groin with injuries to major blood vessels"
He bled out from a groin wound? OUCH!:eek:

[IRONFIST]

Ginslinger, I am going to have to disagree with some of what you said. I have been a bouncer since I was 19 and I am 36 now. I consider the term "Bouncer" to be an honorable term for my profession and have always carried it with pride. Some guys(and gals) do not and I won't associate or work with someone like that. I do agree with your premise that putting a hand on a customer is the last viable option, but it IS sometimes neccessary. I have many, many more instances than not where I have used my wit and verbal skills to stop an escalating situation, but I have also been right in the middle of the dance floor, being the peacemaker between two angry groups and have had it explode into violence on a grand scale. Any bouncer with experience will tell you that sometimes this is sadly unavoidable. As to your assertion that the Bouncer who was killed "clearly elevated the situation", I think it is a bit unfair for someone who is in the bar industry to make a second-hand judgement without waiting for a more thorough examination and investigation of the facts. I withhold making such a pronouncement until I hear if the Bouncer or the involved parties have a history of violence or conflict. I would also like to hear more as to the Bouncers general demeanor and the way he handled his patrons on a regular basis. Contrary to popular belief, not all folks who call themselves "Bouncers" are bullies or overly aggressive. In 17 years of intensive security work(when I was younger and unmarried I worked 7 nights a week), in quite a few high-risk clubs and bars, I have never been arrested for any violent disturbance whatsoever. I have been in more than a slew of bad encounters but I have always tried to maintain my dignity and uphold the legal standard of what I can and CANNOT do. I feel very much sadness for this Bouncers family and loved ones and I hope the truth comes out eventually... one way or the other.

Michael in Sandy, OR (A Bouncer and proud of it)

[mercedesrules]

These smoking bans are an outrageous violation of the property rights of the bar owners.

MR

[sonny]

MARK MY WORDS......YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN YET!

In the short time this smoking ban has been in place ....I can't tell you how many violent arguments I have witnessed first hand.
The weather in NYC has been funny so far this spring...85 today 45 tommorow so they are saying.....So far on the warm days the sidewalks are PACKED with smokers to the point that pedestrians can't even walk by...I am not exegerating.
Bouncers are having a hell of a time enforcing rules as far as people leaving the bar or club to have a smoke and then coming back in.......I guarantee their will be more problems.

[DeltaElite]

Sounds more like, "Bouncer killed when he attacks patrons".

All over a cigarette ban at a bar. :rolleyes:
What a stupid, stupid law.

[Azrael256]

putting a hand on a customer is the last viable option, but it IS sometimes neccessary You are absolutely correct, but putting your hand on a patron's neck is, at the very least, on the line between removing an unruly patron and assaulting him. Judging by the authorities' reaction, I think the bouncer stepped over the line.