Incident at Caf? Rendevous last Friday
Last Friday night, at approximately 12:00 midnight there was a very serious incident at Caf? Rendevous in Seaside.
If anyone was at Caf? Rendevous, and witnessed this incident -please send me a private message. We need witnesses to verify what actually occurred.
Without getting into detail - a man was allegedly assaulted and injured by members of Caf? Rendevous staff and an ambulance and Walton County Deputies were called to the scene. However, the Walton County Police did not produce an incident report until days after the incident -and no credible witnesses were interviewed that night.
It is very important that anyone who witnessed this incident come forward to give their version of events. Thank you.
Replies
95
Beach Fanatic
Amateurs, everyone knows NOTHING good happens after midnight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Beach Comber
Sheriff will be in trouble
FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE- a complaint has been placed with the state attorney's office against our own branch of Walton County Sheriff's office with allegations of deliberate covering up of an incident, inappropriate use of threat and intimidation, civil rights violations, to name a few. They have victimized one of their own residents who is paying their salaries.......
FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE- a complaint has been placed with the state attorney's office against our own branch of Walton County Sheriff's office with allegations of deliberate covering up of an incident, inappropriate use of threat and intimidation, civil rights violations, to name a few. They have victimized one of their own residents who is paying their salaries.......
Beach Fanatic
More ???
Is this stemming from the incident in SeaSide where there was an aggravated battery and the police report was a "little late..." and the victim was also hospitalized? Just curious.
FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE- a complaint has been placed with the state attorney's office against our own branch of Walton County Sheriff's office with allegations of deliberate covering up of an incident, inappropriate use of threat and intimidation, civil rights violations, to name a few. They have victimized one of their own residents who is paying their salaries.......
Is this stemming from the incident in SeaSide where there was an aggravated battery and the police report was a "little late..." and the victim was also hospitalized? Just curious.
Beach Comber
Most definitely..the incident report was done more than 24 hours after the incident. The sheriff's office has assured the gentleman involved that there were absolutely no witnesses although the gentleman remembers being surrounded by people upon gaining consciousness.... the gentleman also has been unable to return to work due to a complete inability to process anything
Beach Comber
Police misconduct filed against WCSO with state attorney
Police misconduct allegations have been filed with state attorney Bill Eddins against WCSO for deliberately covering up a battery against a local resident outside of Cafe Rendezvous by their own staff. The police have assured this gentleman that there were no local witnesses to the incident, although they did not interview anyone at the scene..that gentleman has been left with a closed head injury and inability to return to work. Anyone who witnessed this event with EMS involved, please have the courage to stand up with another local who is not afraid to take a stand.....
Police misconduct allegations have been filed with state attorney Bill Eddins against WCSO for deliberately covering up a battery against a local resident outside of Cafe Rendezvous by their own staff. The police have assured this gentleman that there were no local witnesses to the incident, although they did not interview anyone at the scene..that gentleman has been left with a closed head injury and inability to return to work. Anyone who witnessed this event with EMS involved, please have the courage to stand up with another local who is not afraid to take a stand.....
Beach Fanatic
Most definitely..the incident report was done more than 24 hours after the incident. The sheriff's office has assured the gentleman involved that there were absolutely no witnesses although the gentleman remembers being surrounded by people upon gaining consciousness.... the gentleman also has been unable to return to work due to a complete inability to process anything
What if no one was willing to step forward and say that they saw something?
Beach Comber
Fortunately the man's wife has a masters degree in physical therapy, and is quite capable of diagnosing and documenting a closed head injury after 11 years in the field. Apparenlty, she as well is quite a bulldog who has so far stared down every officer involved and pretty well had them shaking in their shoes and highly anticipates doing so to the gentleman involved in this who obviously is quite trained in assault tactics......
Beach Fanatic
Fortunately the man's wife has a masters degree in physical therapy, and is quite capable of diagnosing and documenting a closed head injury after 11 years in the field. Apparenlty, she as well is quite a bulldog who has so far stared down every officer involved and pretty well had them shaking in their shoes and highly anticipates doing so to the gentleman involved in this who obviously is quite trained in assault tactics......
Sorry. Been a long day. But I am not understanding your response to my question.
Beach Comber
I mean that all of the evidence is on hand with or without witnesses, especially as the parties involved can already demonstrate complete credibility. Witnesses would make this easier, but the case is already there....
Beach Fanatic
I mean that all of the evidence is on hand with or without witnesses, especially as the parties involved can already demonstrate complete credibility. Witnesses would make this easier, but the case is already there....
Okay, keeping in mind I am just trying to understand, without witnesses, how? Just not making much sense to me. But probably best dropped. Wish you luck. Maybe someone that was there will step up and help out the family.
SoWal Expert
I'm not sure if this helps, but I saw this article in this week's www.waltonsun.com:
Incident at local bar raises question of report timeliness
By Sean Boone Sean_boone@link.freedom.com
On the evening of May 17, Luis Perez of Seagrove Beach was involved in an altercation at Caf? Rendez-Vous in Seaside that left him in the hospital with a head injury and a criminal charge of battery.
According to the incident report from the Walton County Sheriff?s Office, Perez became disorderly and hit a bartender while being escorted out of the bar. Also according to the report, Perez was reportedly hit in the head and taken to Sacred Heart Hospital for evaluation.
Eddie Farris of the WCSO said offi cer Johnny Grantham responded to the incident just after midnight on the 18th, but a report was not completed until later that day. Because of the time lapse, Perez and his wife Suzanne Callahan have suspicions that the report was changed.
?I have no idea what really happened to my husband and he of course only remembers the blow and then waking up,? said Callahan. ?If the police had done their job, I would know vital information such as how long my husband was unconscious.
?This is information that certainly should have been given to EMS as well. It is terrifying that these offi cers were so concerned about covering up this story that they could have prevented him from getting the medical attention that he needed.?
Callahan said she received a knock on her door about 3 a.m. from officers who explained that her husband had been charged with battery (hitting a bartender twice), attempting to solicit marijuana to a minor and was taken to Sacred Heart without police escort.
Callahan insists the initial report at her door changed when the fi nal report was released.
?I know my husband does not use drugs,? she said. ?They also have not decided if the punches that were thrown were inside or out.?
Perez said he remembers being hit by an elbow when being escorted, but does not believe he ever punched anyone that evening.
?I never gave a statement to the sheriff?s office,? said Perez. ?They didn?t want me to fi le a complaint.?
On Wednesday, Farris said neither Perez nor the bartender allegedly involved have come forward with a complaint vital for either to press charges. Farris also admitted that in cases such as this, a report is required to be fi lled out immediately, but said his officer did his job, as the incident was ongoing into the early morning hours.
?He immediately started getting in touch with people,? said Farris. ?The offi cer has done his job.?
Callahan disagrees.
?The final bill (at Caf? Rendez-Vous) was $58,? she said. ?The staff said he only had one glass of wine. (That must have been one very nice glass of wine.)
?I also wonder why they didn?t just take him to jail right then (when he was supposedly being physical)??
She also believes Perez?s cell phone records were erased from his phone after he was knocked to the ground. She said she had a text message conversation with her husband that evening that was no longer in the phone?s history.
According to Callahan, she delivered a written statement to the state attorney?s offi ce on Tuesday morning and is awaiting their reaction.
?(My husband) definitely has a brain injury,? she said. ?He has not been the same since.
?If someone is responsible, I am going after them.?
Caf? Rendez-Vous did not return messages from The Sun.
Because the case is still open, the complete police report is not available for release for a minimum of 60 days or until the case is resolved.
Incident at local bar raises question of report timeliness
By Sean Boone Sean_boone@link.freedom.com
On the evening of May 17, Luis Perez of Seagrove Beach was involved in an altercation at Caf? Rendez-Vous in Seaside that left him in the hospital with a head injury and a criminal charge of battery.
According to the incident report from the Walton County Sheriff?s Office, Perez became disorderly and hit a bartender while being escorted out of the bar. Also according to the report, Perez was reportedly hit in the head and taken to Sacred Heart Hospital for evaluation.
Eddie Farris of the WCSO said offi cer Johnny Grantham responded to the incident just after midnight on the 18th, but a report was not completed until later that day. Because of the time lapse, Perez and his wife Suzanne Callahan have suspicions that the report was changed.
?I have no idea what really happened to my husband and he of course only remembers the blow and then waking up,? said Callahan. ?If the police had done their job, I would know vital information such as how long my husband was unconscious.
?This is information that certainly should have been given to EMS as well. It is terrifying that these offi cers were so concerned about covering up this story that they could have prevented him from getting the medical attention that he needed.?
Callahan said she received a knock on her door about 3 a.m. from officers who explained that her husband had been charged with battery (hitting a bartender twice), attempting to solicit marijuana to a minor and was taken to Sacred Heart without police escort.
Callahan insists the initial report at her door changed when the fi nal report was released.
?I know my husband does not use drugs,? she said. ?They also have not decided if the punches that were thrown were inside or out.?
Perez said he remembers being hit by an elbow when being escorted, but does not believe he ever punched anyone that evening.
?I never gave a statement to the sheriff?s office,? said Perez. ?They didn?t want me to fi le a complaint.?
On Wednesday, Farris said neither Perez nor the bartender allegedly involved have come forward with a complaint vital for either to press charges. Farris also admitted that in cases such as this, a report is required to be fi lled out immediately, but said his officer did his job, as the incident was ongoing into the early morning hours.
?He immediately started getting in touch with people,? said Farris. ?The offi cer has done his job.?
Callahan disagrees.
?The final bill (at Caf? Rendez-Vous) was $58,? she said. ?The staff said he only had one glass of wine. (That must have been one very nice glass of wine.)
?I also wonder why they didn?t just take him to jail right then (when he was supposedly being physical)??
She also believes Perez?s cell phone records were erased from his phone after he was knocked to the ground. She said she had a text message conversation with her husband that evening that was no longer in the phone?s history.
According to Callahan, she delivered a written statement to the state attorney?s offi ce on Tuesday morning and is awaiting their reaction.
?(My husband) definitely has a brain injury,? she said. ?He has not been the same since.
?If someone is responsible, I am going after them.?
Caf? Rendez-Vous did not return messages from The Sun.
Because the case is still open, the complete police report is not available for release for a minimum of 60 days or until the case is resolved.
SoWal Expert
Sean Boone wrote a story about it in this week's www.WaltonSun.com (sorry for posting the full report, as I cannot link it.)
Incident at local bar raises question of report timeliness
By Sean Boone Sean_boone@link.freedom.com
On the evening of May 17, Luis Perez of Seagrove Beach was involved in an altercation at Caf? Rendez-Vous in Seaside that left him in the hospital with a head injury and a criminal charge of battery.
According to the incident report from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Perez became disorderly and hit a bartender while being escorted out of the bar. Also according to the report, Perez was reportedly hit in the head and taken to Sacred Heart Hospital for evaluation.
Eddie Farris of the WCSO said offi cer Johnny Grantham responded to the incident just after midnight on the 18th, but a report was not completed until later that day. Because of the time lapse, Perez and his wife Suzanne Callahan have suspicions that the report was changed.
“I have no idea what really happened to my husband and he of course only remembers the blow and then waking up,” said Callahan. “If the police had done their job, I would know vital information such as how long my husband was unconscious.
“This is information that certainly should have been given to EMS as well. It is terrifying that these offi cers were so concerned about covering up this story that they could have prevented him from getting the medical attention that he needed.”
Callahan said she received a knock on her door about 3 a.m. from officers who explained that her husband had been charged with battery (hitting a bartender twice), attempting to solicit marijuana to a minor and was taken to Sacred Heart without police escort.
Callahan insists the initial report at her door changed when the fi nal report was released.
“I know my husband does not use drugs,” she said. “They also have not decided if the punches that were thrown were inside or out.”
Perez said he remembers being hit by an elbow when being escorted, but does not believe he ever punched anyone that evening.
“I never gave a statement to the sheriff’s office,” said Perez. “They didn’t want me to fi le a complaint.”
On Wednesday, Farris said neither Perez nor the bartender allegedly involved have come forward with a complaint vital for either to press charges. Farris also admitted that in cases such as this, a report is required to be fi lled out immediately, but said his officer did his job, as the incident was ongoing into the early morning hours.
“He immediately started getting in touch with people,” said Farris. “The offi cer has done his job.”
Callahan disagrees.
“The final bill (at Caf? Rendez-Vous) was $58,” she said. “The staff said he only had one glass of wine.
“I also wonder why they didn’t just take him to jail right then (when he was supposedly being physical)?”
She also believes Perez’s cell phone records were erased from his phone after he was knocked to the ground. She said she had a text message conversation with her husband that evening that was no longer in the phone’s history.
According to Callahan, she delivered a written statement to the state attorney’s offi ce on Tuesday morning and is awaiting their reaction.
“(My husband) definitely has a brain injury,” she said. “He has not been the same since.
“If someone is responsible, I am going after them.”
Caf? Rendez-Vous did not return messages from The Sun.
Because the case is still open, the complete police report is not available for release for a minimum of 60 days or until the case is resolved.
Incident at local bar raises question of report timeliness
By Sean Boone Sean_boone@link.freedom.com
On the evening of May 17, Luis Perez of Seagrove Beach was involved in an altercation at Caf? Rendez-Vous in Seaside that left him in the hospital with a head injury and a criminal charge of battery.
According to the incident report from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Perez became disorderly and hit a bartender while being escorted out of the bar. Also according to the report, Perez was reportedly hit in the head and taken to Sacred Heart Hospital for evaluation.
Eddie Farris of the WCSO said offi cer Johnny Grantham responded to the incident just after midnight on the 18th, but a report was not completed until later that day. Because of the time lapse, Perez and his wife Suzanne Callahan have suspicions that the report was changed.
“I have no idea what really happened to my husband and he of course only remembers the blow and then waking up,” said Callahan. “If the police had done their job, I would know vital information such as how long my husband was unconscious.
“This is information that certainly should have been given to EMS as well. It is terrifying that these offi cers were so concerned about covering up this story that they could have prevented him from getting the medical attention that he needed.”
Callahan said she received a knock on her door about 3 a.m. from officers who explained that her husband had been charged with battery (hitting a bartender twice), attempting to solicit marijuana to a minor and was taken to Sacred Heart without police escort.
Callahan insists the initial report at her door changed when the fi nal report was released.
“I know my husband does not use drugs,” she said. “They also have not decided if the punches that were thrown were inside or out.”
Perez said he remembers being hit by an elbow when being escorted, but does not believe he ever punched anyone that evening.
“I never gave a statement to the sheriff’s office,” said Perez. “They didn’t want me to fi le a complaint.”
On Wednesday, Farris said neither Perez nor the bartender allegedly involved have come forward with a complaint vital for either to press charges. Farris also admitted that in cases such as this, a report is required to be fi lled out immediately, but said his officer did his job, as the incident was ongoing into the early morning hours.
“He immediately started getting in touch with people,” said Farris. “The offi cer has done his job.”
Callahan disagrees.
“The final bill (at Caf? Rendez-Vous) was $58,” she said. “The staff said he only had one glass of wine.
“I also wonder why they didn’t just take him to jail right then (when he was supposedly being physical)?”
She also believes Perez’s cell phone records were erased from his phone after he was knocked to the ground. She said she had a text message conversation with her husband that evening that was no longer in the phone’s history.
According to Callahan, she delivered a written statement to the state attorney’s offi ce on Tuesday morning and is awaiting their reaction.
“(My husband) definitely has a brain injury,” she said. “He has not been the same since.
“If someone is responsible, I am going after them.”
Caf? Rendez-Vous did not return messages from The Sun.
Because the case is still open, the complete police report is not available for release for a minimum of 60 days or until the case is resolved.
Beach Comber
The police are covering for a second person involved in this. Anyone know if an off duty cop works as a bouncer at Rendezvous or Seaside Security?? Thanks for your help
Beach Comber
And in response to wrobert, best for whom if dropped??
Beach Comber
Thanks. There is a second person invloved being covered up,,, anyone know if an off duty cop works at Rendezvous or Seaside Securityu??
Beach Fanatic
And in response to wrobert, best for whom if dropped??
Best for me if I drop my questions. Keep up. Security details use to be handled directly through the SO so that information would be available rather easily.
SoWal Insider
I read the article in the Walton Sun. It just seems strange to me that nobody is coming forward with any info. makes you wonder......
SoWal Expert
I don't think that Rendezvous has a bouncer.
Beach Fanatic
Fortunately the man's wife has a masters degree in physical therapy, and is quite capable of diagnosing and documenting a closed head injury after 11 years in the field. Apparenlty, she as well is quite a bulldog who has so far stared down every officer involved and pretty well had them shaking in their shoes and highly anticipates doing so to the gentleman involved in this who obviously is quite trained in assault tactics......
Great to hear that a tax payer is standing up for themselves in this sad time of poor leadership by our sheriff.
I am not surprised that this type of incident was mishandled, this is what happens when you have a sorry excuse for a law enforcement department. Time for change in 2008.
Beach Fanatic
Sorry, but I am trying to figure out what the problem with the police in this incident is. I do not have first hand knowledge of this incident (though I well know all of the LEO's named in the Sun article) and the article states that the report was ready within 24 hours, which is actually very timely when you consider the officers are not allowed to hang around the sub doing reports during their shifts; they are supposed to stay in their zones.
But I am always partial to the police anyway. Carry on...
But I am always partial to the police anyway. Carry on...
Beach Fanatic
I am sorry that the gentleman is hurt, but I am curious as to what the man was doing at the bar at CR that time of the morning, without his wife. Seems that might be a contributing factor.
SoWal Expert
I am sorry that the gentleman is hurt, but I am curious as to what the man was doing at the bar at CR that time of the morning, without his wife. Seems that might be a contributing factor.
Husband and wife do not have to do everything together.
SoWal Expert
Interesting that I frequently go to bars without a spouse (probably 'cuz I don't have one) and have yet to get a concussion! :roll:
I would think any concussion from being at a bar w/o a spouse would occur after returning home to the spouse, not upon exiting the premises. ;-)
I would think any concussion from being at a bar w/o a spouse would occur after returning home to the spouse, not upon exiting the premises. ;-)
Beach Fanatic
Husband and wife do not have to do everything together.
I thought that sounded better than just being in CR at that time of the night/morning. I do lots of stuff without my spouse, even attend beach soirees and drink (with a designated driver - thanks wrn).
Maybe I'm just old now, but if it involves a bar, people I don't know, alcohol, and the middle of the night, no good can possibly come of it.
Beach Fanatic
I'd like to know what he did to piss off the bartender??? How much did he drink before the one glass of wine he was charged for.............Did the paramedics or hospital do toxicology tests..........there is obviously more to the story/victim than is what is being mentioned. I believe the wife has a lot to say, but she wasn't there. That being said, it is terriblr that someone was hurt....no matter what he did, unless he threw the first punch.
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