Alabama woman files suit against Pensacola bar, claiming battery by security guards
Pensacola Florida October 19, 2023
An Alabama woman has filed a lawsuit against a Pensacola, Fla., bar, claiming two security guards held her against her will and tried to photograph her exposed breasts in June, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
In the three-count lawsuit, Carlie Reed claims she went to the bathroom with another woman at Wild Greg’s Saloon in Pensacola. Two security guards — Miguel Lopez and Montaio Mitchell — followed the women into the bathroom and became “physically aggressive” with Reed.
The suit claims the guards pulled Reed’s arms behind her “with such force that her top began to fall down, and her breasts were exposed. Defendants Lopez and Mitchell then began to attempt to photograph (Reed) in the bathroom while her top was down and her breasts were exposed,” according to the newspaper.
The remaining two counts of the suit allege Lopez and Mitchell committed battery against Reed through “harmful or offensive contact” with her, the report states.
Reed is also suing the bar for negligence, claiming it could have done more to protect its guests. She is seeking $50,000 in damages and has requested a jury trial.
Court records and police reports, however, paint a different picture of events that night, according to the PNJ.
Reed was arrested that night and charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, according to court records. Police were called to Wild Greg’s around 11:30 p.m. that night, with Lopez telling the responding officers Reed and another woman had gone into the same stall, which is a violation of bar rules.
When Lopez confronted Reed about the incident, she reportedly became hostile. Ultimately, a bar manager banned Reed from the property, after which guards escorted her outside. There, according to the report, Reed “kicked Lopez in the groin” and then slapped him on the side of his face.
The police report from that night makes no mention of Reed ever saying her breasts were exposed or guards attempting to take photos of her in a state of undress.
Reed ultimately accepted a deferred prosecution agreement with the Florida State Attorney’s Office, which offered her the opportunity to complete pretrial intervention, the completion of which would result in her case being non-adjudicated.
Under the agreement, Reed must enter anger management counseling, as well as substance abuse evaluation and any subsequent treatment.
Her case will remain on hold for 10 months as she completes the pretrial intervention. If Reed fails to abide by the court’s instructions, her case will go to trial, where a guilty verdict could result in a sentence of up to five years in prison.
The report notes Reed’s lawsuit was filed less than one month after her deferred prosecution agreement with the State Attorney’s Office.
Wild Greg’s owner Greg Urban told the newspaper he believes Reed’s lawsuit is retribution for her arrest.
