Police officers faced sexually
suggestive patrons during a raid on a gay bar in Fort Worth, Texas
last month, a just released police report claims.
The report alleges that Rainbow Lounge
patrons blew kisses, groped agents and simulated sex acts with police
officers as they carried out their June 28 joint inspection with the
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
According to the report, men and women
“were reaching their hands out to touch officers, and moving their
bodies in a sexually suggestive manner” as officers inspected the
club.
“I was walking behind Sgt. Morris and
a white female wearing a white shirt and blue pants [identified as
Rene Crosby] jumped away from the bar and a glass beer bottle in each
hand, and towards Sgt. Morris and leaning her hips forward and making
physical contact with Sgt. Morris' left buttock in a sexually
explicit manner with him from behind. I grabbed Crosby by the back
of her shirt and pulled her away from Sgt. Morris for Sgt. Morris'
safety,” the report says.
“As I was walking behind Mr. Brown
[Dylan Brown], while removing him from the bar, I felt my gun being
pushed on, and turned around to see a male [identified as Jose
Maczas] behind me. I felt my gun being pushed, I let go of Mr.
Brown, and I spun around and grabbed Maczas' right hand, moving it
away from my gun, and I saw Maczas leaning his hips forward and
making physical contact with my right leg, as if he were having sex
with me from behind.”
In the VIP area “Officer Back
approached [George Armstrong]. Officer Back asked Armstrong how much
he had to drink, Armstrong replied 'I just got here man' and then
Armstrong kissed two of his fingers and then blew a kiss at Officer
Back. Officer Back then asked Armstrong again how much alcohol he
had consumed, he stated 'I just got here man, I have had about two
drinks.' Armstrong then kissed his fingers again and again blew
another kiss at Officer Back.”
The report, written by Officer K. Gober
and dated Tuesday, July 7 (10 days after the incident), also includes
the police account of how Chad Gibson sustained a serious head injury
that required hospitalization.
Eye witnesses allege Gibson was injured
inside the club when officers slammed his head against a wall. But
the police report says Gibson injured himself outside of the club
when he fell and hit his head.
“Shortly after Armstrong was placed
in handcuffs and escorted outside, TABC Agents Aller and Chapman were
attempting to put [Chad Gibson] into handcuffs. This was near the
bathroom … Gibson had reached toward TABC Agent Aller's groin area
and tapped Agent Aller's testicles with his hand. [Officers] could
not get the flexcuffs properly placed on Gibson for his safety. …
Officer Jensen utilized a pressure point under Gibson's nose trying
to gain compliance.”
The report claims Gibson continued to
resist arrest even after officers had placed him in regular
handcuffs, and was taken outside the club.
“TABC Agents maintained care,
custody, and control of Gibson. TABC Agent Chapman later informed
officers that Gibson had been staggering and started to vomit.
Gibson was instructed by TABC Agents to sit down. Gibson refused to
sit down, but then leaned forward to vomit, and fell to the ground
with his hands still back behind his back in the flex handcuffs.
Gibson hit his right side of his head on the concrete in the parking
lot.”
The inspection at the Rainbow Lounge is
under internal investigation by both agencies, and Fort Worth Mayor
Mike Moncrief has called for a federal review of the police
department's investigation. Police officers have been desked. And
Police Chief Jeff Halstead has announced the indefinite suspension of
all joint operations between the two agencies.
The incident has drawn loud protests
from the gay and lesbian community, which has called the raid “police
harassment.” Six people were arrested for public intoxication
during the inspection.