'Grossly Excessive': Defense attorney weighs in on Nashville security guard video
Some people believe an armed security guard used excessive force outside a bar on Demonbreun Street and now there’s question about whether this guard will face criminal charges.
A prominent Nashville defense attorney tells FOX 17 News this guard could face criminal charges and the establishment that hired these security guards could face consequences as well.
There is video of an armed guard tackling a man on the sidewalk on Demonbreun Street early Sunday morning.
Then there’s a second video posted by Scoop Nashville which shows this guard coming from behind and then takes the man to the pavement and puts him in handcuffs on the street.
Fox 17 News showed the video to criminal defense attorney David Raybin and asked if he considers the use of force justified.
“That appeared to be in my view grossly excessive,” Raybin emphasized.
Raybin says he deals with a lot of cases with security guards at bars using excessive force.
“I don’t see that this individual was a clear and present danger at the moment. That this armed security guard comes from off camera, tackles the individual, and appears to harm him, take him to the ground and handcuff him,” Raybin explained.
The two-armed guards work for Nashville Blueline Security and the company supervisor, Don Long, says they are investigating this incident but neither guard has been disciplined.
Armed security guards don't have arrest powers like off duty officers, but Long says they can act on public property.
“If the situation were to call for to secure the situation to where it does not escalate any further, and to prevent someone from being harmed, if you need to detain them until the police department can arrive then that’s perfectly acceptable,” Long explained.
Long says the company plans to put body cameras on guards who work near bars to make future investigations easier and hold everyone accountable.
Metro Police confirm security guards can cuff and detain people if there's an immediate safety threat.
Police filed a report on this incident but it's unclear if it will go any further.
