Armed security guard taking a man to the ground outside a Nashville bar raises concerns
Nashville TN May 17 2023
An armed security guard is taking a man to the ground outside of a Nashville bar in a video posted by Scoop Nashville and some people are concerned the guard went too far.
FOX 17 News was told that an initial fight happened at a bar on Demonbreun Street and then a second fight broke out outside of the bar.
The video posted by Scoop Nashville was taken around closing time this past weekend.
In the video, you can see two men speaking with an armed guard and then another armed guard comes from behind, takes the man to the pavement, and puts him in handcuffs.
Fox 17 News spoke with Jack Byrd, CEO of Solaren Risk Management, about the level of force used.
“Immediately goes for a lateral vascular restraint, the restraint around the neck, which is not allowed. That’s against the law, that’s a choke hold,” Byrd explained.
Byrd says this armed guard did not identify himself and did not make any announcement of what he was doing and came from behind.
“He has de-escalation ability if they needed to. He didn’t have to go to the pavement first,” Byrd said.
Byrd emphasizes the man at the time was being compliant and not being actively resistant which he explains does not justify this level of force.
“The video that was shown was not the entire video that led up to it,” Don Long said.
Don Long, supervisor of Nashville Blueline Security, who these guards work for says a fight between two men broke out because a woman got hit.
“After speaking with the guards and what led up to it, then they acted appropriately. They detained the gentlemen until Metro arrived,” Long said.
However, Byrd and some other people who witnessed this firsthand like Stephen Marsh, manager of Vibes Bar and Lounge, believe the level of aggression was uncalled for.
“I thought he might have had a head injury. Honestly, I was really concerned about how he was taken down so roughly and I thought it was a bit excessive as well,” Marsh said.
Metro Police say the police report is still being processed but they did respond to this call for two people fighting in the street.
The security company says both armed guards are being questioned and the incident is being investigated.
FOX 17
