Yesterday I wrote about the violent Stonewall-style raid of The Rainbow Lounge, a gay bar in Fort Worth, that left 9 people arrested and one in the hospital with a brain injury.
Since yesterday, a little more information has come out, including a denial of any wrongdoing by the police. Police Chief Jeff Halstead said that police officers did not target gays during the “routine bar inspection” that was also conducted at two other bars. Halstead asked people who are angry with police “to take a deep breath.” Halstead also issued a statement saying:
. . . any and all allegations of misconduct against any Fort Worth Police Officer will be investigated thoroughly. Any person present during the bar check conducted at the Rainbow Lounge that observed any misconduct of a Fort Worth Police Officer is encouraged to contact the Internal Affairs Division at 817-392-4270 in order to set up an interview.he would investigate the situation.
But local reporters and papers aren’t having it, citing the bizarre charges of “public intoxication” while inside of a bar and the discrepancies between the reports of how Chad Gibson was injured. Police said he was suffering “alcohol poisoning” while witnesses point to the photograph of a dent in the wall where his head was apparently banged.
Gibson remains hospitalized.
At least two Fort Worth city council members, including one openly gay man, are calling for an investigation, as has the HRC.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
this is fuuuuuuuuuuucked.