Investigation Clears Bouncer In Death Of Man Assaulted At Redwood City Wine Bar
REDWOOD CITY CA July 7 2021 After police arrested a bouncer in connection with a fatal assault at a wine bar weeks ago, an investigation found that the attack did not cause the man’s death, Redwood City Police announced Monday.
Police say the death of a man assaulted two weeks ago, allegedly by security at a Redwood City wine bar, was not related to the beating he suffered there.
Redwood City police have not yet released the name of the victim or when he died.
The incident is the second reported assault at the bar this year. In March, police arrested a man for an assault incident between patrons.
Police arrested Paula Iloahefaiu Alipate, a 57-year-old Redwood City man, days after the incident on suspicion of assault with force likely to cause bodily injury. Police described him as a member of the wine bar’s security.
Police said the arrest stems from a June 20 incident at 840 Wine Bar & Cocktail Lounge at 840 Brewster Ave.
Officers responded to a 12:15 a.m. report of a man lying unconscious on the sidewalk in front of the wine bar. Officers learned that the unconscious man had been intoxicated and was asked to leave by wine bar employees.
When he refused, police said security forcibly removed him from the business, eventually pinning him to the sidewalk until he calmed down.
The man tried to reenter the bar and became involved in another altercation with bar security and was again forced down on the sidewalk.
Police said this was when Alipate allegedly kicked the victim in his head and hit his face with a flashlight at least four times.
The victim was taken to a local hospital.
The ensuing investigation led police to arrest Alipate two days later.
Sometime later, unspecified by police, the victim died of a “medical circumstance independent of the injuries sustained during the assault,” according to a news release issued Sunday by Redwood City Police Department. “The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy and determined the victim’s injuries from the assault did not contribute to the victim’s cause of death.”
Redwood City police encourage anyone with additional information regarding the incident to contact Redwood City Police Detective Andrew Sheffield at (650) 780-5059 or the Redwood City Police Department’s Tip Line at (650) 780-7110.
