Bouncers to be charged

Police say they were taped beating 2 nightclub patrons.

By Wayne Parry

Associated Press

ATLANTIC CITY - Police plan to file charges against several bouncers who were videotaped beating two men outside a nightclub co-owned by the hip-hop star Jay Z.

The video was shot by a disc jockey who had just finished performing early Saturday at the 40/40 Club here and shows about nine security guards kicking and punching two men in a parking lot.

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" one of the men yells. "I didn't do nothing!"

The video shows one of the men being kicked while on the ground, and shows as many as six bouncers swarming and punching the other man, Tyrell Durant, 26, of Neptune.

"We came down to Atlantic City to have a good time," not to be beaten, Durant said yesterday. "We didn't do anything to deserve this."

Durant and his friend, Leonard Clark, have been charged with disorderly conduct.

Durant said he and Clark, 25, also of Neptune, were at the Atlantic Avenue lounge and sports bar to celebrate Clark's birthday. Clark was at the bar, having just ordered a $15 plate of chicken, when a bouncer who had just ejected someone else told him to move, Durant said.

Clark protested, saying he was waiting for his food, and a bouncer began to escort him from the club, Durant said.

Durant said he followed Clark, asking why Clark was being ejected. He said security grabbed him and led him and Clark down a steep staircase, where Durant felt as if he were about to fall and grabbed the closest person to keep his balance.

The club manager told police someone ripped his collar during the altercation inside the club, and police said Durant punched a security guard in the face.

The video was shot and posted to YouTube by a Staten Island, N.Y., disc jockey who calls himself DJ Zeke. It starts when security and the two patrons are outside the club in a parking lot.

Durant denied that he or Clark did anything wrong, but both were charged and released pending a Dec. 11 court date. An ambulance was called for Durant, who said he was sprayed in the face with a fire extinguisher. He was treated at the scene.

Durant said bouncers also stole a watch and cash from him.

A woman who answered the phone at the club yesterday referred inquiries to a publicist who did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

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