WASHINGTON — A D.C. bar took to Instagram Tuesday to share a photo and video of a banned individual seen attacking a woman as they walked away after being kicked out.
Service Bar DC said in the post that they are working with the Metropolitan Police Department to identify the patron and have formally issued a ban notice to the department.
"This person is no longer welcome at any of our establishments," the post reads.
According to a police report, the woman who was hit had gotten into an argument with the attacker, who was kicked out for "being disorderly." While the banned patron was walking outside, they "open hand smacked" the woman in the face before leaving.
The banned patron was last seen heading west onto the 1000 block of U Street.
Video of the attack shows the woman seated and looking at a cell phone when the banned patron walks up and hits her before walking away.
In a statement from the Service Bar DC team, workers say the banned patron was waiting for someone to come out of the bathrooms when they were asked to move out of the way. The customer allegedly became uncooperative and was asked to leave. Workers alerted the bar's security guard who asked the patron to leave. Staff says the patron was originally working with the security guard but then refused to leave.
"As our security guard continued to ask the patron to leave and led him to the front door, the patron became combative and violent with our security guard," the statement reads. "After this incident made its way outside our front door our staff and security disengaged in the public space. The patron then appeared to be exiting the premises when, shown on the video, reached across our patio and struck our employee who had earlier asked him to stand in an appropriate queue for the restrooms."
The attack was so loud, that staff first believed the patron had hit part of the building.
"Our staff had the impression that the patron struck the structure of the patio, rather than our employee’s face, because it was so loud," the team said.
Police reported the employee had minor redness on the right side of her cheek but was otherwise uninjured.
"We are shocked and awed by the series of events that occurred and hope that we are able to maintain the same safe and comfortable environment we have strived to provide over the last seven years," the Service Bar DC team said. "Furthermore, we are incredibly remorseful and sympathetic for the hurtful experience our employee endured."
While Service Bar DC does check IDs at the door, the bar does not keep a log of all patrons and are hoping someone will help identify the banned patron, who was not served a drink and did not use a credit card.
The Service Bar DC Team says the patio where the employee was hit was fully enclosed until recently.
"Our patio was fully enclosed until recently, but DDOT informed us that long-term parklet program regulations will require all walls to be fully open above 36". We hope this incident sheds light on the realities of keeping staff and patrons safe from passersby, and we are able to secure our outdoor area for the security of our staff and patrons," the statement reads.
Anyone with information as the the patron's identity may contact detectives at (202) 727-9099 or text the department's tip line at 50411.
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