EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The security guard of a West El Paso bar wants to press charges against a man who was intoxicated and his group of friends after assaulting and “sucker punching” him Saturday night, Sept. 6, according to court records obtained by KTSM.
As KTSM previously reported, Menda Wangchuk Dorji, 25, and Nima Dhendup, 25, were arrested after an incident on Sept. 6 at Homeboy bar in the Cincinnati area in West El Paso.
Dorji was arrested for resisting arrest, search or transport, and Dhendup was arrested for assault on a public servant. They are both booked into the El Paso County Jail.
According to court records, on Sept. 6, a security guard at Homeboy bar saw Dhendup throwing up inside the restroom. The security guard made contact with Dhendup, determined that he was intoxicated and began escorting him outside.
As the guard was escorting Dhendup out, his group of friends confronted the security guard, and a verbal argument ensued. Then Dhendup walked around his friends and started to “sucker punch” the security guard multiple times, causing pain and a headache.
The security guard went down to the ground with Dhendup to handcuff him. Dhendup attempted to pull away, but the guard held onto him. While the guard was holding onto Dhendup, his friends punched and kicked the security guard multiple times, according to court records.
Additionally, the security guard said they felt someone pulling on his holster and attempted to pull out his handgun.
Two officers responded to the scene after an assault in progress call was made. Comments of the call told officers that 20 people were involved, including a security guard.
When police arrived, they were flagged down by someone yelling “over there” and pointing towards the bar. Officers then saw a “hostile” crowd of roughly 30-40 people yelling near the front entrance of the bar.
According to court records, officers saw the security guard on the ground struggling to hold down Dhendup, who was handcuffed. A group of people surrounded the two, as they yelled and attempted to pull Dhendup away from the guard. As well, another group of people was seen holding Dorji back as he “aggressively” pulled the security guard’s arm.
“In the belief that the Defendant (Dorji) was attempting to help his friend escape, the Affiant (responding officer) gave the Defendant loud and clear commands to let go of Victim (security guard), which he refused,” read the court documents.
An officer then grabbed Dorji’s arms and “forcefully” pulled him off the security guard. After, the officer grabbed Dorji by the upper chest area and pushed him back towards a wall, where Dorji fell onto a bench.
Another officer grabbed Dorji and pulled him towards the ground, where he attempted to get up. The officer told Dorji to sit down, but he refused and continued to crawl at the security guard.
Officers said they could smell the odor of alcohol on Dorji’s breath and person. They determined that Dorji was to be placed under arrest for public intoxication, according to court documents.
Officers told Dorji “loud and clear” commands to place his hands behind his back, which he refused. While attempting to place Dorji in handcuffs, the crowd repeatedly charged at the officers and grabbed them “in an attempt them from effecting the arrest,” the court documents stated.
It’s noted in the court documents that the officers had their backs against a wall and had no avenue to escape.
An unknown Asian man, who was wearing a white shirt, charged at one of the officers. The officer pushed him “to create space and prevent him from assaulting the officers,” and he fell on the ground. They lost the man in the crowd.
Court documents stated that as officers grabbed Dorji’s hands, he tensed up and attempted to pull away from them to get back on his feet. An officer punched the Dorji three times on his left side around the ribs.
This then led the crowd to charge at the officers again. One of the officers told the crowd to back up, but they refused.
Police struggled to get Dorji to lie on his stomach and control his hands. Officers told Dorji to give them his hands, but he pulled them towards his chest. One of the officers grabbed Dorji’s left arm.
Then, officers shot Dorji with a taser to his upper back and told him to place his hands behind his back. Dorji refused and police shot the taser a second time, at which Dorji complied and placed his hands behind his back, according to court documents.
After the taser was shot, the crowd charged towards police, but two other officers arrived on scene to assist in pushing back the large, “aggressive” crowd.
As the crowd charged, one officer struck someone with his baton, but lost the person after they ran off.
Dorji and Dhundup were placed under arrest and the security guard stated he wants to press charges.
A viral video of the incident shows what appears to be an El Paso police officer striking a man in the face with his knee, then repeatedly punching the man on the torso as he’s on the ground, before another officer uses a stun gun. The video did not show what happened before force was used.
WARNING: Explicit language and disturbing footage can be heard and seen in the video.
The El Paso Police Department released the following statement on the video on Tuesday, Sept. 9:
“We are aware that a video of an arrest outside a local bar on Saturday night is circulating online and raising questions. Any time force is used, it is documented and carefully reviewed. This is our standard procedure, and it is already underway for this incident. We value the trust of this community and appreciate the community’s patience.”
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