Man and security guard both claim assault in ‘road rage incident’
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. July 3, 2022 A scary situation unfolded Thursday night between a SITREP security guard and Tommy Francis after an alleged road rage incident turned into what both sides are claiming was an assault.
“He cut me off, I had to swerve and skid to get out of his way,” said Francis.
Francis claims he was leaving the laundromat when he was cut off by a security guard. He said he was then pulled over by the same security guard on Bronson and Ashe roads and that’s when things turned violent.
“I was scared. I was protecting myself. He had no right do what he was doing. He is no law enforcement, he is not a cop,” said Francis.
In video given to Eyewitness News by a witness, you can see Francis’ car getting kicked and then when he gets back out of his car, he gets tazed multiple times.
“I’m asking him to please stop and then he does it again four times,” said Francis.
Multiple eyewitnesses say his head was based into the bumper of the car by the security guard.
“Ridiculous, ridiculous, ridiculous. it could have all been prevented had the security guard just not have been so excessive in all that,” said Trisha Medina, an eyewitness.
In the video, you can also see Francis picking up a bat and waving it around, but the family is claiming that was all self-defense.
“He’s just a little guy. I don’t know why they would treat him this way,” said Nathan Francis, Tommy’s son.
He did sustain some pretty significant bumps, bruises and did go to the hospital but was eventually released.
“Sitting on the curb and he is pushing down so hard on my shoulders, I couldn’t breath. my chest right now. I mean, I thought something was broke,” said Francis.
But, the security company denies Francis’ side of the story. They declined to do an interview but did say: “A security guard was assaulted by an individual. A citizen’s arrest was made. We will be pressing charges. It is an open investigation, so we cannot comment further.”
Francis’ son said they are looking for a lawyer and are planning on pressing charges themselves.
We reached out to BPD who said no one was arrested in this case, but it is not a closed investigation and they are happy to have conversations with both parties involved.
We have been told there is more body camera footage and that is reviewed by the security company.
