A security guard at a St. Paul nightclub has been charged with first-degree assault after he allegedly punched a customer early Sunday morning, causing the man to fall and hit his head, inflicting grave injuries.
Jose Eucario Conejo Marquez, 28, of North St. Paul, was charged Monday in Ramsey County District Court.
The criminal complaint said the customer, a 33-year-old man, is on life support and not expected to survive.
The complaint gave the following details about the weekend incident at the North End nightclub:
The 33-year-old customer, who was on a first date at the Blues Saloon at 1638 Rice St., reportedly became jealous after multiple men made advances on his date. He became upset and was asked to leave the club.
Surveillance video showed that after the man was in the parking lot, he pointed at his date. At that time, the security guard stepped between them and punched the man in the head. Then, while the customer was leaning against a vehicle in the parking lot, the security guard allegedly punched him again.
The man fell and hit his head on the pavement, losing consciousness. His date asked for help. A security guard allegedly told her to pour water on her date and that he would be fine. Two men then carried the unconscious man to his pickup truck.
Ten minutes later, at about 2:20 a.m. Sunday, the man’s date flagged down police officers who were in the area investigating a hit-and-run. The officers found the 33-year-old slumped over inside a red Dodge Ram with Wisconsin license plates. The date said that the man had been unconscious about 10 minutes after getting punched by a security guard. Officers saw that the man had a small amount of blood coming from both nostrils. He was unresponsive and didn’t appear to be breathing. An officer began CPR and saw that the man had a faint pulse and shallow breathing.
Officers spoke to Marquez, who was back inside the Blues Saloon, after employees said that the security guard was allegedly the one who punched the man, according to the complaint.
Marquez allegedly told officers that the man was drunk and was being “belligerent.” He then allegedly said that he was frustrated with the man for fighting inside the bar and being verbally aggressive with his date.
Marquez allegedly admitted to punching the customer at least once.
The 33-year-old was taken to Regions Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a “devastating brain bleed.”
Marquez is in custody, and his first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.
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