NJ bouncer charged in fatal attack of man outside sports bar
North Bellmore NJ September 5 2022
Police say a North Bellmore man has been charged with assault in the attack and death of another man outside a sports bar in Holbrook two weeks ago.
Suffolk County Police say that David Cruz was arrested on Aug. 24 after he punched Jake Scott, 32, outside of Tailgaters Sports Bar on Aug. 21 around 3 a.m.
They say Scott was transported with serious injuries to Stony Brook University Hospital before he died on Thursday.
Police have not said what started the confrontation.
Scott’s family’s lawyer, Jon Bell, says video evidence shows the victim sitting on a box outside the bar. At one point, Cruz appears to be provoking Scott, waving his arms in the air. Cruz then uses a shirt to cover a different security camera, grabs something from his car and proceeds to pummel Scott, according to the lawyer.
Bell added that Scott’s brain was so swollen doctors had to cut out pieces of his skull. Ultimately, he did not survive.
“We spoke with witnesses and apparently Cruz has been violent with customers in that bar in the past,” he said. “On top of that we ran his rap sheet. He has a never-ending rap sheet with violent charges. He should have never worked as a bouncer in a bar.
More serious charges in this case may be coming soon.
