Police Statement On Incident Involving Senator
[Updated with audio] Following discussions on the radio today about an incident at Swizzle Inn last night involving Senator Jeffrey Baron, the police confirmed that the Senator “was involved in an altercation that resulted in the arrest of a 46 year old St. George’s man on suspicion of having care and control of a motor car while impaired.”
A police spokesperson said, “We are aware that there has been wide reporting today of an incident that took place around 11pm on Wednesday, August 27th in the parking lot at the Swizzle Inn in Hamilton parish.
“The BPS can confirm that Senator Jeffrey Baron was involved in an altercation that resulted in the arrest of a 46 year old St. George’s man on suspicion of having care and control of a motor car while impaired.
“Enquiries are continuing into the matter and the police would like to speak with anyone who was at the Swizzle Inn or in the area at the time. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant B.T. Smith at 247-1442.”
Bernews asked both the OBA and Senator Baron for comment on this matter earlier today, and will update if able.
Update Aug 29, 4.41pm: The audio below [courtesy of the Sherri Simmons Show which airs on Magic 102.7 FM on weekdays from 11am - 3pm] is an interview with the security guard describing his side of the incident.
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- Man Denies Assaulting Senator Jeff Baron | Bernews.com | August 29, 2014
Thank you for keeping a drunk driver off of our roads, Senator. Awesome display of vigilantism. You just have to wear a mask and cape next time.
Batman you say really at that size more like a small version of the Joker. Has he followed up on his last speech.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btoz5zKqQOE
Why would the Senator “fight” the paid security guard?
The senator should of been arrested and if he was a black senator he would of been thrown in jail.
This is a black and white crime.
The White Senator make the assumption the Black security guard is not qualified to do his job.
You are nothing but a “pin head ” your racist views and comments only serve to keep this island divided, you are a sad sick individual!!!!
And when you say ” the white senator made the assumption the black security guard was not capable of doing his job ” nonsense, can you explain why it was the senator that had to pull the guy out of the car??? Did the security guy do his job???? You are blinded by racism!!!!!
And if the senator would’ve bit of more than he could chew , a whole different conversation would be posited by the polylogist defending the fool Baron !
@Bad Cop. Yet it is the only reason you want to crusify him he is awhite senetor of the OBA. Did you want charges to be laid on whomever started the incident between Burgess and Scott (I think) As your name suggests you wanted it to reflect the story makes it pretty hard to see if you had any concerns D Burgess and Scott tusled. I mean someone should have been chaged with assult. I think the bigger issue here is we are not holding politicins to the same standards an average citizen must comply with. What makes your view predjudice is that you can’t show you had concerns when the other party did something similar. That is basically how you identify a blogger whom might have been put up to the post.
LOL Yesterday Barron got baited into the trap and was crusified on the talk show. Weather he was given the oppertunity to defend himself or not the interview was not unbiased at all and was intended to make a mountain out of somthing that was essentially none of our business. Kinda like how peoples sons where getting locked up don’t you think.
I assume you have been spending some of your time reading a dictionary??? I guess while you are doing that you are not telling your usual big lies!!! Claiming to be a ” white female ” is one of your many!!! Secondly, reading a dictionary does not make you sound intelligent unless you can master the art of using the word in the correct and truthful way!! You are the fool not Sen Baron, he did the exact same thing I would have done, unlike you who would have let him carry on his way and possible kill someone!!! I don’t know which plp mp you are, but you without a doubt are one of them???
after listening to the security guards version of events perhaps the driver did not understand a word he said and Baron stepped in as a translator
The senator lied on the radio – he said he was not drinking and others says he was “hot”
I dunno… he does look pretty dreamy, perhaps they meant that kind of hot?
Why do immediately you value some unnamed person’s account over the Senator’s public account? Are you that blindly biased?
Dreamy??? Not to me. Definitely not my type.
Far more of us should be less inclined to mind our own business given the ongoing carnage on our roads. The criticisms and attacks of someone stopping another from drinking and driving are totally ignorant….
He was totally doing the right thing to intervene! Thanks for not being indifferent Sen. B! Clearly we need so many more like you!
The Senator was OUT OF ORDER!
Why didn’t the police office arrest him for fighting with the authority in charged at Swizzle Inn?
What does the Senator bill says he was drinking?
Did the Senator tell the truth regarding what he was drinking?
Bystanders says he was drinking!
He says he wasn’t?
Who’s telling the truth.
Watch for the cover up
what a stupid idiotic asinine statement cover up
SENATOR BARON SHOULD RESIGN
CAN YOU IMAGINE IF THIS WAS SENATOR BURT, MING OR ROBAIN?
If it was Burt, Ming or Robain, they would be calling them heroes!
stupid comment without knowledge.
Or Burgess or Scott!!
Oh wait…
????????Can you imaging if it was Burt, Bean or Robain? For real. Did you forget that your LEADER admitted to giving marijuana to his daughter! A child! And what happened? So stop with your F’n bull**!#.
Senator thank you for stepping in . I heard the security guards story on the radio where he claimed to have the situation under control and claimed to be tips trained. If the situation was indeed under the security guards control then how was it that the keys were in the ignition and the vehicle moving? What a load of political nonsense on the radio today! Thank you for potentially saving those kids lives as well as the driver and his wife along with anyone else who this vehicle may have ran into!
As a matter of law, anyone can use reasonable force to prevent a crime.
There has been carnage on our roads for the past few weeks due to idiots driving drunk. Anyone taking action to stop them is a hero, deserving of praise.
Check out the security guards…and the manager !!!!!!!!!!!!
In case you missed it the security guard did have everything under control, whilst the Senator was throwing punches at the guy and had the keys the car was rolling away, the security guard concerned for the children turned of the ignition and put the brakes of preventing an accident and who know what else!!!Senator baron can not be everywhere at all times and may have been confused with his own responsibility as a patron. The Manager rightfully backed the security guard , both had to plead with the Senator to hand over the keys and he kept refusing, that is called public nuisance and irresponsible behaviour taking control of someone elses job and trying to usurp Management responsibility to the whole scene. The security guard or someone should have called the police on the Senator for disruption.As a matter of law without having the proper facts that could be considered dangerous especially engaging in a fight in trying to help..
So the drunk guy was in the car, keys in ignition, passangers including kids in the car. He’s going to drive off. When exactly was this highly-trained security guard going to get off his -ss and do something?
If the Senator had the car keys, HOW did the security guard turn off the ignition?
Story does not add up lets wait and see the tape the only thing that has the evidence on the matter.
LOL Personally Barron should not have intervened the way he did but i do not think the security guard is telling the hole truth here as I fail to see that he did have it under control. It seems to me that he might have been trying to protect the employer cause when the drunk guy is no longer on premises they are no longer concerned what happens to the drunk guy are they.
whole*
don’t you listen to the Sherry J talk show, the security guard came on as requested to contact the show, and told of the incident, he said he wasn’t innitially aware who senator Baron was…cheeessse….thats where the story broke, and senator Baron called in with his side of things after a while, then the whole thing snowballed from there..now we’re here…. ” we started from the bottom now we’re here ..doooodeedahhhbadababababada started from the bottom now we’re here..
why do you need the ignition on to hit the brakes? you know they’re mechanical right?
oh… and how did the ignition get turned on without the keys? Security guard hotwire it?
Is your rabid bias is so pathetic that you’ll make blatently contradictory statements as long as it helps your cause to “stand strong!”?
This time he might be considered a hero . The next time he maybe the goat !
coffee is a daily grind
And often bitter!
and when burnt like they are the stink is unbareable.
LOL
C-r-a-z-y…..
Let me guess, PLP minions spreading false truths over the radio yet again!?
This guys was a Cop and a UN peacekeeper, so something tells me he was acting as a vigilante. Just a hunch!
Don’t Mess With The Red Baron!
Aye that pizza tastes well!!
Did Baron assault the security guard? if so, he went too far. On the other hand, I cannot fault him for his taking action in the first place towards the drunk idiot with children in his car. And yes, if Baron went too far, he broke the law too. No worries, he is OBA, so all is well. Nothing to see here folks
“He’s OBA so all is well”? How easily you gloss over the PLP MP’s daughter who last week got let off after being found guilty of violently resisting arrest.
You know nothing about what happened, but you start a completely made-up story suggesting he assaulted someone, but that he will be let off. Quite apart from the legal ramifications of that type of allegation, it is vitriolic and hateful. Particularly as the more likely story is that he stopped a dui, in a month when there has been carnage on our roads because people have turned a blind eye to drunks getting behind the wheel. We would all be better off if there were more people with the courage to do what he did.
Why doesn’t Maynard Dill come out and say something about hateful, slanderous, vitriolic comments like yours? Like we don’t know.
Don’t forget the OBA MP’s son with the weed case!
Also how you used the last Premier to win votes!
Then also the PLP MP who robbed a bank and discharged a gun years ago!
Also OBA MP who worked as a Supreme Court clerk in Bermuda and used his position to access and steal $600,000 worth of heroin!
Oh and the grandparents of the UBP, who’s children now control the UBP/OBA who pulled my grand father’s morgage.
Oh and the 8 Mill with no evidence and the $350,000.00 with evidence.
The MPs son was treated more harshly than most people in his situation.
Which MP was that? MP TM’s son got off so who’s son are you talking about? No jail time is not more harshly than others.
Someone with influential friends got off for drug posession? Oh, are we talking about Makai?
*$800 MILL
… With no evidence.
You mean like the OBA ministers son who was let off for drugs and equipment? The “no case” issue when he never went to court? Oh….thought so @creamy
Makai Dickerson anyone?
So where is Maynard Dill now?
Noticably quiet isn’t he.
@creamy, I would like to give you a BIG thank you!!! It just sickens any sane mind when the likes of “citizen” can actually write such NONSENSE !! Senator Baron did the correct thing and I personally would like to thank him!! Also you are correct on the plp mp’s daughter things as well, when that became news, all we heard was ” Tree Fogs” from the usual talking head plper’s??? When Min Moniz’s son was giving a break as well for his small amount amount of weed, it was hard to even get room to make a post because of the plp nonsense of him being white and a OBA ministers son??? This cr@p from them needs to stop!!! Empty vessels make the most noise every time my friend!!!!!
Whoa Whoa whoa…
Watch it bra, becauseit was all good when the Police “lost” the evidence for Trevor Moniz’s 20 year old son when he was caught and charged with possesion of Marijuana!
Miss Weeks was in an altercation, she lashed out at those she felt were attacking her and that’s why she walked. She was repeatledly peppersprayed and dragged by the police as well. You’re a ******* **** to word it in a manner which would suggest that she “violently” did anything being that she was charged with “resisting arrest”.
Also, Jeff Baron had no right to act as he did. If he had come to swizzle in warwick and tried that, other patrons would have assisted security in apprehending the both of them.
One more thing. Was Mr. Baron in care and control of a vehicle as well? We know he wasn’t out there drinking pink lemonades at 11 pm and it does take some sort of “liquid courage” for a square ( he’s def a ****** sqaure) no matter how much experience in law enforcement he’s a ** non the less and I’m sure he may have been drinking as well and could have been intoxicated.
The headline should read…
Two Drunks arrested after swizzle altercation.
What a jerk you are. A big frikkin jerk.
PREACH IT !!!
Maynard, where are you? Looking the other way again?
I’m not condoning the actions of the man suspected of impaired driving, but in my opinion Jeffery Baron stepped over the line. He had no right to “allegedly” pull the individual out of his car and start a physical altercation. From what was said by the security guard on duty that night, he pulled the the guy out of his car while the car was started and in gear! How irresponsible is that?
If as he claims, his concerns were for the children, then why behave in such an irresponsible manner? He should have allowed the security guard on duty to carry out his job functions as he was trained to do instead of intervening to playing superhero.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the man brings counter charges against Baron for physical assault. In my opinion he would be well within his rights to do so.
So the guy prevents a drunk motorist with his children in tow endangering not only their lives but the lives of all on the road and you think he should have charges brought on him? Really, with all the nonsense on our roads today and people losing their lives over bad choices?
Partisanship really has done a number on our island.
First off, I am not a partisan of any political party. They all have their negative and positive traits and they have all made mistakes.
I understand the concern about drunk driving. It’s a very serious problem. In fact, alcoholism is a very big problem in our culture. But, taking matters into our own hands will not make the situation any better, it will only make things worse.
Jeffery Baron should have allowed the security officer to do his job without interfering the way he did. By jumping in the way that he did, he put the children at risk himself because the car was in gear and rolling when he pulled the guy out of the car. was that a good choice??
As I understand, he also had a altercation with the security officer over the car keys. He obviously did not think the officer was capable of performing his duties. Quite an arrogant in my opinion.
Next time a drunk driver kills someone you’ll be wringing your hands and saying someone should do something.
Exactly. That ass could’ve killed or hurt someone & imagine if during the course of the investigation there were a bunch of witnesses & statements say in the guy was seen drunk & driving off. And the headline of Sen. Boron – head of national security was one of the “indifferent” patrons who did nothing…. Smdh
Were you there, or are you basing your comments on hearsay?
You’re obviously one of those people who sees stuff happening, and walks right on by because you don’t want to get involved or you think its somebody else’s job.
The security guard should have welcomed the help, instead of sulking because he feels bad about not having the situation under control.
It’s not hearsay you nitwit!
Don’t you listen to the news? Both the security guard and the manager on duty at the time (both firsthand witnesses) say that Baron went too far.
Infidelguy, if anyone is a nitwit it is YOU.
The definition of hearsay is “Unverified, unofficial information gained or acquired from another and not part of one’s direct knowledge.”
They were eyewitnesses. You were not.
So any information you have gleamed is hearsay because you did not see or hear it for yourself. It is second hand knowledge that you have no way of knowing is true.
Quoting eyewitnesses doesn’t make the words hearsay or any less true. Apparently you want them to tell it to your face.
If the eyewitnesses made their statements public, it’s not hearsay.
vj–get your facts straight.. Sherri J reached out to him(security guard) and he responded.. IT IS HIS JOB to keep the place secure which is what he was doing, seems like the Baron overstepped some boundaries assuming that both SECURITY and MANAGEMENT did not know their job, That is pure arrogance!!WAS A POLICE OFFICER !!!!operative word”WAS”.
So can you explain how the drunk man was in his started car and by all accounts about to drive off. The guard was not in control at all. The supivisor said he did not see who started what as he came after the fact. Guess you did not hear that.
If the security guards were capable of doing their jobs, the man should never have been allowed to get into his car in the first place, let alone get the keys into the ignition – since it is at that point one is considered to be driving under the influence, doesn’t matter if you’re in the car with the car off or outside the car, key in the ignition puts you in care and control of that vehicle.
It’s a scenario that happens on a nightly basis at restaurants and bars up and down this island. Establishments should be held accountable for allowing drunk persons to get into their vehicles and endanger themselves and the public.
Thank you for correctly stating the law. That is correct key in the ignition means the crime has been comitted techically.
LOL
since when is it the security guys job to stop a patron from driving away in his vehicle further more the parking lot is still private property and the drunk driver to be! did not break the law as of intent there is no law to that (minority report )ring a bell ! The correct course of action would have being to block the parking lot exit with another vehicle and call the police, and the police would have had to wait out side of the property to lay charges !Senator Baron did more harm to the children in the vehicle than that of the potential drunk driver those kids will probably need consuling as to see a thug come an attack the head of the family in an other wise peacefull exit from the establishment !I do not agree with driving while having had any alcohol but again was senator baron at this location because he was drinking holy water ? should the police force Save money on breath alizer`s and just call Baron let him decide whether someone is drunk or not!
I say, “Whatever it takes.” Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t Jeff Baron a police officer at one time? If so, then I have full confidence that he knew how to handle the situation.
I’m no OBA supporter, but right is right and wrong is wrong. I would rather Mr. Baron take action, than a drunk kill these kids and possibly other innocent people on the road.
“…..right is right and wrong is wrong…” I really detest stupid meaningless memes like that.
Not that it helps any, but sometimes right can be wrong. Just thought I would point that out.
Sounds like you have a personal problem.
FYI I really detest silly people. “Sometimes right can be wrong.” Huh? Something is either right, or it is wrong. Get a dictionary if you’re not sure how to define things.
What you should have said was that sometimes doing the RIGHT thing can lead to the WRONG outcome. This is a prime example of that. I’m sure if he had just stood by and done nothing he would have be slammed for that too. Sometimes you just can’t win.
However, right cannot be wrong. It’s one or the other.
JUST THOUGHT I WOULD POINT THAT OUT.
You don’t know sarcasm when you see it do you?
LOL!!
I guess you haven’t been witnessing h=the most recent reports of over zealous police officers using force and violence to subdue innocent people eventually causing their deaths, this has been rampant lately, wonder what most of them are given besides an arrogant attitude,..Police are not what they used to be,proper Constables..
“I guess you haven’t been witnessing h=the most recent reports of over zealous police officers using force and violence to subdue innocent people eventually causing their deaths, this has been rampant lately,”
That is news worthy Bernews have you reported on this or is this person talking about another country or in another country?
I thank you VJ for “calling a spade a spade”…”Right is right and wrong will always be wrong”.
I’d like to hear more about this “training” you think the security guard may have had to handle a situation such as this.
Oh Boy! Here we go!
I guess you know everything about this security guard right? Of course he must be incompetent according to your worldview. Go ahead and stereotype. I know you can’t help yourself.
Some things never change.
SMH!
I would like to hear something from the police service on this one. Would they advise a member of public to handle a situation such as this in this way?
Thank you! That is an excellent question. If it were Michael Bermudian, would this action have been praised so much?
He says he was TIPS trained. TIPS costs $40 and is done online in one sitting. So BFD, frankly.
Which probably explains why he did nothing while the drunk guy got in his car with his family and switched on the ignitiion.
If the security had things covered, how did Mr. Baron get to the driver first?
Puhleeese! Baron was hardly acting irresponsibly. WTH with that twisted perspective. He was stopping a drunk driver from taking off in his car! With children in the car!! Clearly the Security Guard was impotent to intervene or the guy would never have gotten in the car.
All of you need to shut the F@#$ UP !!!! None of you were there you all need to mind your own F@#$%^& business!
The concern should be with the Bar !! How many people are dead because they left a bar drunk ? Huh ? I`m sorry I can`t here you !! Idiots !! all of you !!!!
As a citizen he was justified in his actions.
Only in a small frustrated community do we sees such negativity.
Shalom.
I wanna here mr. santucci on this one? I wonder if his ideology will change on drunk driving or will political side of things get mixed up!? just a question nothing serious.
Goodness, Baron steps in a stops a drunk driver and now he get put on the stand of public opinion and chastised for his actions? Good grief, what has this island come to. Jeff Baron was a police officer and is (correct me if I am wrong) head of security at Tuckers Point Hotel so i believe he would know how to handle a situation better than a fly by night security guard.
Well done sir.
Yeah you certainly are darwins child…
If the Security Guard is “TIPS” trained and on top of his game the man that was arrested should never had made it to his car. The servers in the restaurant should have stopped serving him drinks as well. This is NOT a political issue so stop making it one. He could very well have driven off and killed himself and the two INNOCENT children as well as some other innocent person on the street.
If it was an average “Joe Blow” on the street that did this would you have an issue?
Senator Baron I applaud you.
@ Tricks, before we go putting blame on the establishment and the servers, do we know that he was there drinking? As far as this story goes, for all we know, he could have just popped in to pick up pizza or something.
Otherwise, I agree, this, like most things here locally, is being too politized.
Both the guard and the manager said the guy was drinking celibrating something that night and further they know him as he was a regular which make me believe they would have let him go driving down the road maybe.
LOL
This would not be news except for the fact it was a Senator. Well done Jeff.
If Marc Bean or any of the PLP did the same thing there would be a negative response. If Chris Furbert or Rev Tweed did it there would be a negative response. Any other OBA member and there would be a negative response.
At the end of the day Sen. Baron actually took action against the destructive drink driving culture here. It has certainly highlighted the issue. Too many people die on our roads and many of these deaths must surely be avoidable.
On issues such as this, the political blinders need to come off. Actually, if everybody removed their political blinders we’d have a far more effective Govt. and Opposition.
It would be news, nobody would care tho.
If this was a PLP senator you’d be calling for blood and resignations and you know it. Now we are querying the security guard’s ability to make a judgment call. Cha! I guess the police in Fergusson are right too since they are trained at making arrests.
Ohhhh a psychic. Anyone who acted in this manner would deserve praise.
What does Ferguson have to do with an indicent like this in Bermuda? A little over reach don’t you think?
But at least it didn’t take long to make it a race issue for some. Bernews posters sure are consistent if anything else.
Half the time i think some on here sit in a back room in the US and post on hear paid bloggers indeed.
LOL
Why do people blame white in Bermuda for things that happen elsewhere like “police in Fergusson”, blacks here were upset at white here for the Trevor case in the US. What is that? Sorry but it can only point to who real is predjudice on the island. Not saying that they own predjudice perspectives but I don’t see the samer in reverse happening here.
If it was a PLP Senator then they’d be lauded as a hero on a certain talk show.
correct and most every one else would not have cared as much as those that asupport a party that if they could would over tune democracy in this country by attempting to steel the government after the people reguardless of who made it out to vote eleceted. After all if only one person voted that means one party have more votes that the other and hence the winner.
Only in the twisted, poisoned minds of Bermuda could stopping someone from driving drunk turn into a racial issue
Good for him. So many would have let the guy drive off. “It’s not my jawb” would be the reaction.
I am glad that someone stepped in to take a drunk driver off our roads, I hope that Sen. Baron assisted the security officer, and didnt hinder him from doing his job. Removing the driver while the car was in motion could have been extremely dangerous for the children. Cant wait to hear the whole story, and Swizzle has security cameras. Will be interesting.
Jeff Baron did well to intervene UNTIL the security guard got there. Question: where was the mother of the kids when the security guard and supervisor got there? If she wasn’t in the car why would the driver leave? Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t Swizzle Inn parking lot private property? Having Care and Control of a vehicle, wouldn’t that have to be committed on a public road? If Jeff Baron conducted himself accordingly, why was he REPORTED to have scuffled with the security guard? You know what they say, once a cop always a cop! I heard Jeff Baron say that he wouldn’t do anything differently if put in the same position. He is NOT a cop and NOT above the law and should realize that he could have charges brought against him for assault!
Idiot, was the first thing that came to my mind after reading your post????
Swizzle Inn parking lot is private property, but it is also a public place. You think conducting illegal acts on so called “private” property means you shouldn’t be prosecuted?
If I’m speeding in the parking lot of the supermarket, and I ram into your car and damage it, would you not call the police and file a report? Or, by your logic, should I be off the hook because it happened on private property instead of the main road?
I really cannot believe that people are finding fault with the action taken here. It could have been one of YOUR loved ones he saved from a drunk driver.
The person with the sour grapes seems to be the security guard. Maybe he’s embarrassed that he couldn’t control the situation.
Or, he may just be a diehard supporter of the Opposition and had it in for Sen. Jeffery Baron…Just another scenario
Hence all the attention about this from the talk show.
LOL even aired the interview twice like they were trying to prove something. Pathetic really let the police and courts short it out thankfully everyone involved is still alive
Or said what would protect himand the employer.
LOL we need to see the tapes please. Since everyone wants to make a big deal about this.
@ Need Peace,
That was Nonsense, Pure Nonsense!! If that driver had left as he was about to and gotten in an accident and killed a family member of yours and you found out Mr. Baron did nothing you’d then say he should have acted.
Read the Motor Car Act and the Road Traffic Act and you will find Peace ; Need.
You can be arrested anywhere, Public or Private.
Read.
Shalom.
And you dont take into concideration that we do not know who did what first maybe the security guard assualted the senitor when he would not give up the key. Thought of that or is this based on your “world view” someone mentioned earlier.
LOL need to see the tapes please.
For those of you that think because the security guy was tips trained that would make a difference I would like to know what bar you drink at. Very seldom does any of these tips trained bartenders cut anybody off until they either throw up or get in a fight! All one has to do is look at the amount of people that loose their lives on our road and how many are under the influence. Until we get serious about on spot sobriety check points this type of madness will continue.
Imagine if the country made it this hard for the gangs around here.
LOL
I have no interest in politics; I know that I would have done the same thing as Jeff Baron rather than take a chance with people’s lives. Well done for having the courage to intervene. Imagine if people had intervened in the 8-10 cases each year where someone drunk on a bike killed themselves….
And how about a few of my friends? The one with the pin in his hip, the mother with chronic back problems, the one with memory loss, all because drunk drivers in cars hit them….
I applaud citizens who do the right thing. I don’t care whether they’re a senator or a homeless person. It doesn’t matter.
Well said.
This is only an issue because of who he is. I would think a security guard would welcome a citizen’s help. This is not a political issue at all, so why are people turning it into one. Any civic minded person would have done the exact same thing.
If the guy had decided to beat up the guard (which has happened in the past) and he was on the losing end, I’m sure he would have welcomed help. Or would he rather people stand by and watch until the police arrived?
well said–haven’t you seen the movie Airplane when people try to assist they just wanna get some blows in tooo,.. thats why Security guards were mandated for certain places with liquor licence, not withstanding its obvious since CADA even sends transportation for people who over indulge, that drinking is a serious issue, but not for patrons or wanna-be-cops-again people, Managers/owners have a responsibility, and bartenders are the ones that must be TIPS trained…I sometimes see the Belco guys on the pole and I wanna help, but should I, NOO!!!!Its not my job, even though I might have worked there previously.
Hi mj. Why did you change your name?
As a mother of a child who had gotten hit by a drunk driver I too say thanks. In my case my daughters phone had dialed me while she was being flung around during the accident so I actually heard it on my voice mail. I also heard the ambulance going to the accident. The phone call telling me my daughter was in the hospital was terrible in the fact that you dont know what to expect. Thankfully the man who hit her was given five years. Someone should have taken his keys
“This is not a political issue?” Why wouldn’t it be? He is a senator, a public figure. In all my years I have never heard of a government official getting into a public brawl! Where’s the decorum? Alcohol is a powerful thing! Jeff, you’re not a cop anymore! Stay in your lane!
Government officials got in a brawl in the House of Assembly a few years ago…
selective memory, nice Scott vs Burgess was no charges pressed not even “disturbing the peace in a public area’
LOL
An intoxicated guy tried to get in a car and drive home with his kids in the back and someone stepped in to stop it. Stay in your lane? Jesus we’ve got some yokels on this island.
Damned if you and damned if you don’t.
Good work Baron. And anyone that doesn’t agree is a simple minded partisan hack whose loyalties have skewed their sensibilities. It seems to be an affliction on both sides of the aisle these days.
yah… prosecute Baron to the fullest extent of the law and let the potential killer go free…maybe you’ll like to donate some compensation to him for being yucked out of his car whilst intoxicated.
Well done, Jeff. I think in time we will see this as the right action. Even if was on private property, if the owner of the property feels like it was an offence he or she should bring charges but I doubt that will happen. But what if it was a private party? Kinda the same thing.
Maybe Mr Baron didn’t care what the personal ramifications to himself might be at the time and was just trying to stop the sickening heartbreak that drunk driving can cause to the driver, passengers and anyone else nearby that may be hit by them. We don’t know the full story that’s obvious but good on you Mr Baron for helping make our road safer and probably preventing a totally foreseeable accident.
Well done Jeff Baron! Not sure why anyone would have an issue with this. A vehicle driven by anyone under the influence of alcohol,can swiftly become a weapon that can hurt maim or even kill, and usually innocent victims as we all know!
Really?? People think this is a bad thing?? We need more Jeff Barons
Security Guards are not hired stop people driving drunk.Have you ever seen a security guard sstop someone from driving drunk? Great job Jeff.
@ Frank. The Gravity Nightclub Security Guards in conjunction with the bartenders did excellent work with preventing people from driving drunk. The bartenders and managers were very good at saying to patrons no more drinks and sought security to locate a friend they came with or call a taxi to get the person home. In fact if you arrived at the club and you seem to be under the influence you were not allowed in. There are some excellent bartenders, managers and security guards out there.
Good job Senator.
Tri Drifter
“It’s not my jawb”now that was funny heh heh.
Although I know we used to say it a lot.
Damn do we still?
As a young man in the hospitality industry back in the 80s I confused being professional with being subservient, back than it depended largely on who you listened to or took advise from.Once I took a look at the man in the mirror and stopped listening to a lot of fools my career flourished.I was also an angry young man for whatever reason back when,but I learned to get out of my own way.I also learned it is easier and self fulfilling to say yes as opposed to no all the time.
P.S. It also got me some fat tips.
Well done … And now the difficulty is straightening your back !
Won’t be that hard without a chip on his shoulder.
I got a jackhammer if you need help ridding yours.
Oh yeah, Coffee the Tough Guy!
Actually it’s TCF.
Jeff made a judgemental decision and seems comfortable with it. I wasn’t there, I don’t know the specifics of the situation however what I do know is that given his background, he unquestionably has more experience with these matters than myself and most of the island’s population.
To critique his actions one would have infinitely more credible ammunition if he, as sadly most of us would, had turned a blind eye, continued on his way, and let a suspected drunk driver possibly put himself, his family and the community at large at risk. Without a crystal ball its hard to measure the cost of inaction – maybe nothing…maybe tragedy. I suspect that we are better off bantering about this reality rather than a tragic possibility.
When I say hope I mean to say the adverage passer by would not interceede,they would wish them well,and hope they got home ok, or hope they didn’t harm themselves or others?or hope they didn’t have to read about them in the paper the next day.
I see no suggestion in Mr. Barons actions that he felt the security guard & management where incompetent, but if the intoxicated driver was in his vehicle, engine on and brake off how where they going to stop him, did they have tire spikes, where they going to block the vehicles path using their bodies? If the security where not going to remove his car keys seeing it is ‘no ones right to do that’ then surely they where going to have to remove him from the car too? Oh yeah that’s no ones right either…
With the security and staff being TIPS Trained they would have known the person to be too drunk to drive, so why wasn’t he followed or observed more closely? The moment he unlocked the car and attempted to enter the drivers side they should have acted before he got in, there had to be time right? They did have children whom they would have had to ‘strap in or secure’ so if it was under control how why was he allowed to enter the vehicle, start it and attempt to drive away?!
Mr. Baron may well have gone too far but I wont criticize him on this one.
If what has been reported is correct, the only question is how did the Senator end up fighting with Security
Did he refuse to hand over the man’s keys to the Management of the establishment, if so, has he now gone too far, the emergency is over, did the Senator’s head get the best of him.
In this type of situation, where the security guard did nothing and would have allowed the drunk driver to drive off with children in his car, why would Sen Baron hand over the keys to the the management of the establishment? What special authority would they have in this situation? I’d think the person who prevented the crime (in this case Sen Baron) would be rightly reluctant to give the keys to people who had no special or legal authority, and who apparently had no interest in stopping the crime.
It only matters who made actions first doesn’t it.
LOL we need to see the tape
Jeff should be applauded for stepping in. oh, and who has their children in a bar at 11pm at night!! SMH
Just to let you all know….the “TIPS” training course is a joke……have taken it and have been a bartender for a long time. ask any server that has done the course….their answer would be it was a complete waste of their time…..but it is a money maker for CADA..
A hurricane just passed and the rain came down and the wind was blowing; but in the Bermuda contexts that was political.
It was a good thing the good senator and former policeman was not armed. I wonder who was on top during the fight?
Why’s that Alvin? please, elaborate on what you’re implying…
That’s just Alvin being OTT and alarmist with zero evidence again.
The bartenders and the security men were NOT doing their jobs. This drunken individual obviously had TOO much to drink, didn’t care about the children entrusted in his care and clearly, was allowed to get into his car to drive under the influence. Jeff Baron is not a trouble maker nor would he just take it upon himself to jump into this situation to be and Dr. Froncioni and others so vocal about the drunk drivers on our roads.
And where is the group CADA Mr Santucci comment ?
Let me get this straight. A man who appeared to be drunk tried to get into his car at 11pm at night outside a bar with two young children (what on earth were they doing out at that time of night and what were they doing at a bar in the first place?). A man who happens to be a Senator and a former policeman appears to have been so concerned at the danger of this man driving off with two innocent children in his car that he went out of his way to make sure that didn’t happen. The security guard and the manager were also involved and there is some dispute about who did what.
The Police are asking for witnesses to come forward, and to the best of my knowledge they have security cameras at Swizzle Inn that might have caught some of the action. As a first move I hope the Police secure any video tape so that it can be produced in court.
Now we have group of bloggers who were not there and are going purely on hearsay who are demanding that the Senator resign. I always thought that in Bermuda we are innocent until proven guilty, and that goes for the car driver as well as the Senator.
I suspect that the driver will be going to court where he will have every opportunity to present his side of the story and have a lawyer to defend him, while the Senator, the security guard and the manager will also have a chance to give their evidence on oath to a Magistrate as will any other independent witnesses who come forward.
Surely it is just plain common sense to wait until all the facts are known before we rush to judgement, especially if that judgement is clouded by the usual ever present partisan political hacks from either party.
Clearly you’ve never been to Swizzle Inn, it’s not just a bar.
What I would like to know is why did the Swizzle security and manager feel that it was appropriate to call the Radio Talk show and give a report?
I think that the manager needs to go as well as the guard!
Burchall and family, for reasons which I clearly overstand, will not allow me to speak my truth here. So, I won’t!
Ms Burns, I have no idea why you are bringing up my family since I am the one who runs Bernews, but I assure you my family is everything to me and any attempted insult against them falls flat.
For anyone reading, this is the same lady who was carrying the “white mental illness” sign at the march, and yes, sometimes she is not allowed to speak “her truth” here and her comments get blocked.
Patricia Burchall
Thank You Bernews, Aug, 29th, 3:53 pm
In this case your efforts are greatly appreciated.
I hope you and your family have a blessed and safe weekend and holiday.
what the faaaaaaaack??
howthe… whatthe…
“nana Peggy”, get a grip!
<3, me
I am overjoyed that Bernews is censoring your comments.
People who think and speak like you abuse the freedom of speech we are afforded in a democracy.
The day people like you go away is the day Bermuda and the world becomes that much better of a place.
@ Double D
Ditto, great weekend to you and yours.
Perhaps you should get your own blog/website so you can spew that nonsense you call “truth” to your heart’s content. Bye!
Ppl amaze me ,all these comments about someone doing the right thing but zero comments on the story about a ”real bermudian man” beating up a ”non real bermudian ” female lawyer …smfh
Get a life Mark.
Bermudian men can assault others and it means sheet to you?
I need a rum.
Give Senator Baron a knighthood.
Good on you Senator for stopping a drunk driver from possibly killing someone.
Mr, Santucci from Cada’s silence is deafening! Do we pay him in any way? If so Why?