TABC to investigate
injury
of man in agent's
custody at gay bar
By MITCH MITCHELL,
From the Web, July 2, 2009
FORT WORTH -- Officials for
the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission have acknowledged that a man was
severely injured Sunday while in the custody of a TABC agent who was joining in
an inspection of a new gay bar.
The agency is conducting an internal investigation of the incident at the
Rainbow Lounge on Jennings Street, according to a news release issued Wednesday
afternoon. The TABC also conducted inspections at two bars on Rosedale
Street.
Meanwhile, the man who was hurt in the raid on the Rainbow Lounge, 26-year-old
Chad Gibson, was listed in fair condition at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort
Worth. He had earlier been listed in serious condition.
"We are saddened that this incident occurred and extend our sincere hope that
Mr. Gibson recovers quickly," said TABC Administrator Alan Steen. "I have
initiated an internal affairs investigation to answer questions about how these
locations were chosen, to review the agents' actions, and specifically to
establish the facts surrounding Mr. Gibson's injury."
The inspection of the Rainbow Lounge has drawn protests from the gay community,
including a demonstration later Sunday by about 100 people.
Protesters have complained that excessive force was used by police and TABC
agents during the inspection, which has also been referred to as a "raid."
Police Chief Jeff Halstead on Tuesday pointed out that Gibson was in the custody
of a TABC agent, not a Fort Worth police officer.
"They were not my employees," Halstead said during a meeting at an east Fort
Worth church.
Six Fort Worth police officers, two beverage commission agents and a supervisor
entered the Rainbow Lounge, 651 S. Jennings Ave., about 1 a.m. to check for
alcohol-related violations, police have said.
Inside, some customers made "sexually explicit motions," according to police,
and one grabbed an officer’s crotch. Officers took more than 20 people
outside for questioning and seven were arrested on suspicion of public
intoxication, police said. The TABC said only five were arrested, four men
and one woman.
It took officers several moments before they realized that Gibson needed medical
attention and called an ambulance, Halstead said.
Gibson remained conscious and communicated with officers, Halstead said.
'We’ve got to talk’
Halstead spoke at a police-community forum that had already been scheduled at
New Beginnings International Church to discuss concerns of residents in Fort
Worth’s eastern policing district.
But several members of the gay and lesbian community attended and questioned
Halstead about Sunday’s incident
"Why didn’t they do something?" asked Elizabeth Pax, ambassador for Queer
Liberaction, a Dallas-based advocacy group. "Why didn’t your officers
speak up?"
One Fort Worth officer made an initial call for assistance early on, Halstead
said. Investigators think that call took place while Gibson was being
injured, Halstead said.
Once patrons confronted the officers, Halstead said, the bar check took on a
very different tone.
Halstead asked again for people who were at the Rainbow Lounge to come forward
and tell police what they saw.
He said that the department had received about 500 calls but that only two were
from people who had been at the bar. Investigators need to hear from
witnesses, not just from people who want to complain, he said.
Halstead promised that he will work to employ a liaison between police and the
gay community.
"We’ve got to work together," Halstead said. "Be patient, and you will see
that this is just not lip service. I will meet with you wherever you want
to meet. I will go to your restaurants, your house, we can eat barbecue,
whatever you want to do. But we’ve got to talk.
"We will heal beyond this."
Staff Writer Bill Miller contributed to this report.
Click here to read the follow-up article.
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