Ambulance

Ambulance

By Kristen Griffith and Brandon Smith, The Whetstone

Students witnessed a Wesley security guard punch a man in the face.

Security was called after students saw a drunk and unconscious man lying on the pavement outside of Roe Hall Oct. 25 at 3 a.m.

“I went to see if he was still alive, and he was breathing,” senior Felix Ortiz said.

He said when one of the two security guards awakened the man, he flailed his arms and hit the security guard.

“The security guard punched the man once in the face after being hit,” he said.

Walt Beaupre, director of safety and security said he never heard this side of the story.

“I’ve only heard about this version of the incident from when [the Whetstone reporter] and I first spoke,” he said.

Beaupre said the security guard, whose name he would not release, followed protocol.

“The male became conscious, began swinging his fists, and was restrained by security staff,” he said.

He also said security staff has the right to defend themselves, just like everyone else.

“The security guard caused more harm than good on the situation because he could have injured him more,” Ortiz said. “He caused him to hit his head on the stone pavement as he shoved him.”

Sophomore Elijah Tinson, who also witnessed the scene, said the guard was justified since the man struck the security guard first.

“I thought the officers did their jobs,” he said. “I think they handled it the right way.”

Ortiz said the paramedics didn’t behave well, either.

“If you spit on me, I will beat your ass,” witnesses said a paramedic shouted to the man after he attempted to spit blood from his mouth.

Ortiz said the paramedic staff started laughing as the man started crying.

“Don’t kick a man when he’s already down,” Ortiz said.

Tinson said the paramedics handled the situation the wrong way.

“She wasn’t talking to the guy with respect,” he said.

Freshman Alonzo Hall thinks the man’s race played a part in how he was treated.

“If it was a white kid, they would have simply picked him up, and carried him away,” Hall said.

Ortiz also said it is possible his race contributed to the way the situation was handled.

“I’ve seen white fraternity guys passed out and handled with better care,” he said.