Interesting story.
A few weeks ago, I threw a guy out of a venue I was working. As most do, he cursed me out, and threatened me, but left. An hour later he returned to try and get his jacket he apparently left. He was much more calm, and seemed like he was no longer belligerent. It was cold, so I told him I would walk with him to find his jacket, as long as he left when we found it. He agreed.
One of my other bouncers came with us. After a brief search, it became apparent that he was too drunk to find it, so I told him to just leave. I eventually had to restrain him, and pulled him through the crowd to the front door. When we got into the doorway, I loosened my grip to let him walk. That’s when he suckered punched me. I saw it coming, but I couldn’t dodge it in the small doorway, so I turned my head and took it in my left ear. I pushed him out of the door, and then the other bouncer and I restrained him. I was unfazed by his blow, but my ear hurt from being crunched between his fist and my head. I was livid. When we turned him loose, he squared up to me. I was considering multiple things I could do to him. I could arrest him. I could slam him on the ground, or knock his teeth out etc. He was very drunk though. I was afraid that if I engaged him, I would probably hurt him badly or kill him. I didn’t want to do paperwork either, so I didn’t arrest him. He eventually walked off and got in an Uber cab.
A week later, he returned. I threw him put again. This time there were several cops outside, and several of my guys. Surrounded, he didn’t put up much fight, but he was really mad, and drunk. An Uber cab pulled up, just when we were about to arrest him. We decided to let him go. I turned to one of my other officers, and said “he’s gonna get his ass kicked, just not by me.”
The next night, we heard from a nurse at the closest ER, that the guy had an interesting night after our fun. Apparently he got into an argument with the Uber driver, and ended up trying to choke him. The driver had a large metal flash light near him, and beat the guy almost unconscious. He then took the guy to the ER. Cops struggled to remove him from the car. When they were taking him in for treatment, he got belligerent again. He dared the cops to tazzer him. Well. They didn’t. But they smashed his face into the curb while taking him down.
He went to jail, after his multiple head wounds were treated. It was a Saturday night. So he stayed in jail until at least Monday afternoon. I assume he made lots of friends there with his winning attitude.
I wanted to hurt him, like he tried to hurt me. But I didn’t. My self control was rewarded with knowledge that he did get what was coming to him. And I didn’t have to get my hands dirty, or do any paperwork, or have to go to court.
Karma baby…
Self control. It’s possible. It’s the best option.