Man restrained by bouncers dies

[rperumal]

Here's an article from today's Winnipeg Sun newspaper about a guy who died in my hometown here in Winnipeg, Canada just over this past weekend. Apparrently from what I've heard, the guy's face was in the snow so he couldn't breathe and he died. An unfortunate occurance that might have been avoided if the bouncers had proper training in restraining people.

-RP



'He wasn't a fighter'

Victim 'big teddy bear': widow

By CARY CASTAGNA, POLICE REPORTER




The 28-year-old man killed outside a Pembina Highway nightclub early Saturday morning was a fun-loving practical joker who didn't like violence, his grieving widow says. "He would rather walk away than fight," Tessa Hanson told The Sun yesterday. "He was a big teddy bear."

James Ronald Hanson died outside The Beach at 1792 Pembina Hwy. shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday, after three bouncers allegedly subdued him while trying to break up a fight.

Gregory James Everett, 23, Adam David Bidzinski, 20, and Christopher Enrique Gonzales, 19, all employed by Canad Inns at the Fort Garry Express location, have been charged with manslaughter.

Tessa said her husband will be cremated and she will bring his ashes to the accuseds' court appearances "so they can see what they did to him. Every time there's court, we'll be there."

The city's third homicide victim of 2004 didn't want to go out that fateful night, his wife recalled. But he was coaxed into stopping at the bar for a couple drinks with some relatives some time before midnight, Tessa added.

GOT INTO ALTERCATION

About two hours later, one of the relatives was kicked out of the club for "poor behaviour," police said. James accompanied him to the parking lot, where the two got into an altercation with some other people, police said.

While trying to break up the fight, hotel staff allegedly forced James to the ground, face down. Moments later, he wasn't breathing. An autopsy has been conducted, but police are awaiting toxicology and other test results before the cause of death is confirmed.

James and Tessa, who had been married for nearly nine years, were planning to start a family in the summer.

Affectionately known as Jamie, James worked as a machine operator for Omniglass Ltd., a fibreglass company in St. James.

A graduate of Technical Vocational School, James was a family man who wasn't into the bar scene, relatives said.

"He had a great outlook on life," said his cousin, Candace Heide. "He looked at the bright side of everything. He was always smiling and giggling. He loved to rent karaoke machines and have his family over."

James' death is the third tragedy to strike the family.

In October 2001, James' 19-year-old cousin, Wayne Joseph Hanson, was fatally stabbed outside the Maryland Hotel. Christopher Lee Prince, 22, was charged with first-degree murder.

Just last October, James's 72-year-old great-aunt, Merilyn Gladys Drury, was killed when the Dodge Shadow she was driving north on Salter Street was broadsided by a fire truck eastbound on Redwood Avenue.

Everett, Bidzinski and Gonzales were all released from custody yesterday on their own recognizance in the amount of $5,000. They were ordered to keep the peace, not to have contact with each other and not to attend at any Canad Inn locations. Their cases have been put over until May 6.

Meanwhile, the provincial government is considering introducing training standards for bouncers.

Charlene Lumoin, Manitoba's registrar for private investigators and security guards, said guards who work for security companies are regulated, but "in-house" guards and bouncers are not.

The province is looking at changing that, she said.

[Largo_Mano]

Damn that's horrible. I know bouncers have to deal with alot of drunk assholes at times but at the same time I find alot these bouncers especially out here in LA walk around with a chip on their shoulder. They are usually these big buff dudes with bad attitude.

[kengar]

Things that many people do not think about. The environment is a big aspect in any type of physical situation. I trained with a former police officer who spent many years in Alaska, and then in Washington, he had a partner who was killed in an altercation and was smoothered in the snow. He designed a ground fighting system built around the cold environment, taking into concideration the clothing/gloves worn by officers and deep snow which usually covered the area.

Maybe bouncers need a madatory class, Bouncing 101, before they can work the door.

I feel for the family and the bouncers involved.

[JaredExtreme]

This is why I am not a big fan of the bar scene.

[MrPoopy]

I'm with Jared. Stay away from shit holes and you wont end up in shit.

[gracilva]

One of Australia's biggest sporting idols was killed about a month ago
from a punch to the head(bouncer sneako punch)
On the same night a bouncer was nearly clubbed to death with a bat
by one of the patrons at a different location.
Seems to happen every weekend even though it is law that all
bouncers have training and a security licence.
testosterone and alcohol=TROUBLE unfortunately.

P.S R.I.P (DAVID HOOKES)

[alwaysmixwell]

this just goes to show how stupid canadians are !!

j/k

[dbp]

who knows what really happened that night...only the guys involved and unfortunately someone died and we'll never hear his side of the story.

From my experience, bouncers around the Pittsburgh area also walk around with a chip on their shoulder. From many experiences, I've learned it's just better to walk away (and that goes for more situations than dealing with 'authority' figures), take a deep breath, and forget about it.

I understand these bouncers have a job to do...and sometimes that involves looking like a tough guy to get the respect they 'deserve' but I've had to take a few deep breaths from time to time....otherwise you look like the bad guy (if you get jumped by 3 bouncers and kicked out, you were disorderly...and if you beat up a guy for trying to do his job...you still look bad).

Well...sorry to the family no matter what the situation...no one deserved to die.

[MrPoopy]

I don't think badasses and alcohol mix well. In my opinion, most of the people that patronize liqour holes are less than upstanding citizens, so they are bound to cause trouble. And the bouncers aren't much better.

[rperumal]

In today's Winnipeg Sun, here are two letters to the editor as a response to the initial story that ran in the Winnipeg Sun. The responses to each letter in brackets is the response of the editor to their letters.

-RP

-------------------------

Victim was not a fighter

I am writing in regards to the Canad Inn nightclub death on Saturday morning. James (Jamie) Hanson was my cousin, and I am appalled that someone cannot even go out for an evening without wondering if he will return home again. Jamie was not a drinker or a fighter. He was a fun-loving, compassionate husband. It is extremely hard to believe that he even got into a fight! What was said to the family was that he was defending his friend, and this is who Jamie was. He was there to help, not to start fights. Regardless, this act should not have cost him his life.

James suffered a horrible death. It sickens me to think of his last remaining breaths as a struggle to even live.

How many more people have to die before these hotel managers realize they should stop the 12 hours of drinking time till 2 a.m.? Giving patrons that amount of drinking time is just asking for trouble.

Kim Ellison

Landmark

(Our condolences to Jamie's family.)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't blame the bouncers

Re: Candlelight vigil held (Katie Chalmers, Feb 23).

After reading about the unfortunate incident at The Beach nightclub over the weekend, I was disappointed by your Feedback question, "Do nightclub bouncers abuse their power?" Where in the article does it state that security over-stepped their boundaries? According to witnesses, these three men stepped in to do their jobs and subdued Hanson and his friend after they started causing trouble in the parking lot.

I have worked as an emcee at bars in three different cities, and The Beach was by far the most enjoyable place to work. The staff, from management down to security, are professionals whose main concern is to provide a safe and friendly environment for their patrons. These doormen, who barely make more than minimum wage, risk their own safety every night so that others do not have to tolerate the few idiots who don't know how to behave.

While I sympathize with the family of Ronald Hanson, maybe he should have conducted himself in a more appropriate manner. This was an unfortunate accident, but the only people who feel that nightclub security abuse their power are the ones getting shown the door for acting stupid.

Adam Moccia

Brandon

(They'll get their day in court.)

[alwaysmixwell]

i dont think its the bouncers fault. theres a reason that this guy was restrained..i dont think he deserved to die but he could've avoided the whole situation in the 1st place.. o well that sucks for him !

[aseepish]

rperumal,

I grew up in Winnipeg and I have been a little sickened at how dangerous that city has been getting.

How is the martial arts scene doing there nowadays?

[rperumal]

Originally Posted by aseepish

rperumal,

I grew up in Winnipeg and I have been a little sickened at how dangerous that city has been getting.

How is the martial arts scene doing there nowadays?

The scene isn't doing too bad, I have noticed that more and more people are getting interested in the martial arts in Winnipeg. However you are correct at how it is slowly getting more dangerous. I wish it wasn't so but it's becoming more and more obvious that whatever we're doing to curtail violent crime isn't working too well in our city.

-RP

[KopyKat]

Originally Posted by rperumal

The scene isn't doing too bad, I have noticed that more and more people are getting interested in the martial arts in Winnipeg. However you are correct at how it is slowly getting more dangerous. I wish it wasn't so but it's becoming more and more obvious that whatever we're doing to curtail violent crime isn't working too well in our city.

-RP

Ya i live in Winnipeg as well and it is getting pretty dangerous, gotta be careful where you go and what you say in some areas. And the bars can be pretty rowdy as well, fights aren't very rare at all at some of them...
Rperumal: Where do you live in winnipeg? Im from the maples area...

[rperumal]

Originally Posted by KopyKat

Ya i live in Winnipeg as well and it is getting pretty dangerous, gotta be careful where you go and what you say in some areas. And the bars can be pretty rowdy as well, fights aren't very rare at all at some of them...
Rperumal: Where do you live in winnipeg? Im from the maples area...

That's funny, I spent most of my life growing up in the Maples. I live in the south end of town now in the Fort Richmond area.

-RP