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Noise complaint at bar leads to melee - Accounts differ (officer tasered crowd/band at concert)
Houston Chronicle ^ | Oct. 15, 2006, 10:19AM | By ANNE MARIE KILDAY and PAIGE HEWITT

Posted on 10/16/2006 2:14:51 PM PDT by weegee

Noise complaint at bar leads to melee Accounts differ of incident where an officer says he was forced to use a Taser on patrons

By ANNE MARIE KILDAY and PAIGE HEWITT

A Houston police officer responding to a noise complaint Friday night at Walter's, a popular music venue on Washington Avenue, discharged his Taser at least three times when a melee ensued after he told a guitar player to turn down the volume.

Exactly how — and why — it all started depends on whom you ask.

Officer G.M. Rodriguez approached management about the noise complaint, filed by a neighbor, and the volume was turned down — but that as the officer was leaving, the volume went back up, said HPD's Sgt. Nate McDuell. He said Rodriguez then went on stage and approached guitar player Adam Stephens, one of two members in the laid-back country rock band, the Two Gallants. McDuell said Stephens, whose guitar was hanging from a neck strap, then used a sexual obscenity and shoved the officer with his shoulder. McDuell said the officer then tried to arrest Stephens for assault and forced him to the stage floor of the stage.

Stephens, a 25-year-old from San Francisco, said that is "absolutely" not what happened. Stephens said he was sideways and singing on the stage just before he turned around and saw the officer, who then shined a flashlight at him and said, "Stop." Stephens, who denied shoving the officer, said he responded, "Why?" He said the officer moved closer to him and yelled, "Stop!" Stephens said he again asked why and that the officer then grabbed him by the neck and forced him to the floor.

Accounts vary, but apparently several people then charged the stage, there was a lot of pushing and shoving, and the officer called for backup. HPD's McDuell said several people were grabbing the officer from behind when he felt someone grab his pistol.

At some point during the incident, the officer removed a cartridge from his Taser, so that it would discharged "dry stuns," which are used for "close contact combat," McDuell said. He said the officer used the Taser three times. Meanwhile, about six patrol cars arrived at the scene.

Rodriguez suffered bruises and cuts on his arms, at least four people were arrested, a valuable bass was broken. A tall, slender 14-year-old with shoulder-length hair was Tasered, and a University of Houston sociology student doing a "field paper on the music scene" also was Tasered.

Stephens, who left the scene and was not arrested, said he was Tasered twice in the stomach and that the officer was "out of control." "He was extremely violent form the start," Stephens said. "It was frightening."

McDuell said the officer's approach was commendable and that it was fortunate that he used a Taser instead of a weapon. "An officer gets attacked by dozens of people in a club who have been drinking," McDuell said. " If anything, the officer was abused."

Pam Robinson, the owner of Walter's, said, "I wasn't here when it happened, and I don't know exactly what happened. I am sure it will all get straightened out." Robinson said she "felt comfortable" leaving early Friday night, because of the "college student" audience that had gathered to hear the three bands — the Two Gallants, Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles, and the Trainwreck Riders.

Chronicle reporter Anita Hassan contributed to this report.


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: crowdcontrol; donutwatch; houston; noisecompaint
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1 posted on 10/16/2006 2:14:52 PM PDT by weegee
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To: 537cant be wrong; Aeronaut; bassmaner; Bella_Bru; Big Guy and Rusty 99; Brian Allen; cgk; ...

Houston and Rock and Roll PING

A myspace "profile" has been established to discuss this case (including video of the taser being used).

http://www.myspace.com/hpd_has_problems


2 posted on 10/16/2006 2:18:41 PM PDT by weegee (Remember "Remember the Maine"? Well in the current war "Remember the Baby Milk Factory")
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To: weegee; Eaker
I drive past Walter's twice a day, it's less than a mile from humble manor.

I may have to drop in, sounds like a fun place!

3 posted on 10/16/2006 2:22:36 PM PDT by humblegunner (If you're gonna die, die with your boots on.)
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To: humblegunner

Outside of the police actions, yeah.

They have all sorts of bands that play their (local, national, old, new).

Only notable shows I've seen there in awhile was Blue Cheer this year. And country/rockabilly singer Sleepy LaBeef a couple years ago. The rest were local acts but the names wouldn't ring a bell.

http://www.4215washington.com/


4 posted on 10/16/2006 2:28:59 PM PDT by weegee (Remember "Remember the Maine"? Well in the current war "Remember the Baby Milk Factory")
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To: weegee

McDuell said the officer then tried to arrest Stephens for assault and forced him to the stage floor of the stage.


My eyes....
Where are the editors?


5 posted on 10/16/2006 2:29:36 PM PDT by Khepera (Do not remove by penalty of law!)
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To: weegee; All
from the MySpace entry
"The Rodriguez [the HPD officer] then said to Adam the guitarist “You need to quit playing.” Adam and Tyson were still playing and in the middle of a song. Adam then responded “What? Why?” Rodriguez had his flashlight in his right hand and turned on his flashlight, and raised it above Adam’s head and flashed it in his eyes. He then got closer within 2 feet of the singer, then told Adam “You need to stop playing” Adam responded "F*ck no, s*ck my D*ck, Get off the stage"

Then Rodriguez grabbed Adam’s guitar, to which Adam jerked the guitar back, the Houston Police Officer grabbed him around the head and took him down. Tyson the drummer jumped up from the drums and jumped onto the officer. The officer dodged Tyson and pins the two bandmates down. People from the crowd get on stage and swarm up and start taking pictures, while others are trying to separate the fight."

6 posted on 10/16/2006 2:36:46 PM PDT by Texas_Jarhead (At worst the Pope's comments might cause a "war of words" but mohammedans prefer a "war over words".)
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To: Khepera; humblegunner
He was extremely violent form the start," Stephens

The editor has been here form the start!

7 posted on 10/16/2006 2:50:34 PM PDT by Eaker (You were given the choice between war & dishonor. You chose dishonor & you will have war. -Churchill)
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To: Eaker

Where are we to form a start?


8 posted on 10/16/2006 2:52:48 PM PDT by Khepera (Do not remove by penalty of law!)
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To: Eaker; Khepera
Form the start of the stage floor of the stage.

What're you guys, illiterates??? ;-)

9 posted on 10/16/2006 3:10:16 PM PDT by humblegunner (If you're gonna die, die with your boots on.)
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To: humblegunner

We should form the start of the stage floor of the stage?
I'm not sure I understand.


10 posted on 10/16/2006 3:13:05 PM PDT by Khepera (Do not remove by penalty of law!)
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To: Khepera

Exactly!


11 posted on 10/16/2006 3:21:58 PM PDT by humblegunner (If you're gonna die, die with your boots on.)
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To: humblegunner
"A tall, slender 14-year-old with shoulder-length hair was..."

You'll have to excuse the writer, he had the hots for the kid.

12 posted on 10/16/2006 3:24:51 PM PDT by Deaf Smith
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To: weegee

Sleepy LaBeef! Wow, haven't heard him in a while!


13 posted on 10/16/2006 3:29:28 PM PDT by ladyjane
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To: humblegunner

Good for a bit there I thought I was losing it.


14 posted on 10/16/2006 4:00:57 PM PDT by Khepera (Do not remove by penalty of law!)
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To: humblegunner; Khepera
What're you guys, illiterates??? ;-)

No, I'm straight but that is for every man to choose for himself!

15 posted on 10/16/2006 4:08:12 PM PDT by Eaker (You were given the choice between war & dishonor. You chose dishonor & you will have war. -Churchill)
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To: Deaf Smith

Whats the minor doing in the bar, aside from catching the reporters eye?


16 posted on 10/16/2006 4:17:43 PM PDT by caresistance
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To: caresistance; humblegunner
Whats the minor doing in the bar, aside from catching the reporters eye?

Depending on the liquor license some places allow minors.

Or maybe he was getting all hammered up like the band.

Gunner is our "man (sort of) on the scene" so we will get him to investigate.

17 posted on 10/16/2006 4:33:50 PM PDT by Eaker (You were given the choice between war & dishonor. You chose dishonor & you will have war. -Churchill)
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To: Eaker; caresistance
Gunner is our "man (sort of) on the scene" so we will get him to investigate.

Only as far as getting all hammered up.

Minors in clubs are on their own.

Unless they're my kids. Which they ain't.

Although one of 'em is working at it.

18 posted on 10/16/2006 4:45:52 PM PDT by humblegunner (If you're gonna die, die with your boots on.)
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To: weegee
“about the noise complaint, filed by a neighbor”

What I don’t get about this whole article is why someone is living next door to a bar that features live bands has a right to call the cops to complain about loud music.

It’s sort of like someone living next to an airport not liking the sound of planes taking off and landing or someone who builds a McMansion next to pig farm and then complains about the smell.

It’s Rock and Roll man. It’s supposed to be loud.

I don’t think I’ve ever known any musician, even a classical trombonist I know who would appreciate some cop yelling at him to stop or turn it down in the middle of a set.
19 posted on 10/16/2006 6:48:39 PM PDT by Caramelgal (Too annoyed right now for a tagline. Check back later.)
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To: Caramelgal

I'm with you. This dispute would have been resolved more simply if they'd just tasered the neighbor for felonious mopery.


20 posted on 10/16/2006 8:55:56 PM PDT by festus (The constitution may be flawed but its a whole lot better than what we have now.)
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