As it happens, the five newest inmates at the same county jail in Santa Rosa that hosted the classical music program are bouncers from one of Petaluma’s rowdiest bars, the decade-old Jamison’s Roaring Donkey bar on Kentucky Street, according to the Petaluma Police Department. City officials in Petaluma are considering shutting down the Roaring Donkey entirely after its security team was arrested last weekend for allegedly beating up a sober guy at the bar who argued with them. Police say they assaulted this guy, a 38-year-old Santa Rosa resident, both inside the bar and outside on the sidewalk, after he defended a woman who had entered the men’s restroom against security’s wishes. “An independent witness reported that while one member of security had the victim in a chokehold on the ground other members were punching and kicking the victim in and about his head,” police say. “The victim sustained significant injuries including swelling and bruising on the left side of his head and other lacerations and abrasions.” The five bouncers, residents of Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park in their 20s and early 30s, have since been arrested and jailed for battery. And two of them are facing extra charges, according to Petaluma police: one for allegedly carrying around brass knuckles in his pocket that night, and one for violating his DUI probation. Meanwhile, the assistant city attorney in Petaluma tells the local paper, the Argus-Courier, that he’s going to try and revoke the bar’s conditional use permit, which would prevent the Donkey from serving alcohol — effectively a death notice. This permit “requires them to have a security plan that has been approved by the city’s chief of police,” the city official says — and “despite several meetings and email correspondence between [Jamison’s Roaring Donkey] and city staff, they still have not submitted an approved comprehensive security plan, which would provide their staff the tools they need to effectively manage their business.” Ouch. For context, the Argus-Courier also reports that nearly a quarter of all crime reports filed from Petaluma drinking establishments come from the Donkey. A lawyer for the bar’s owners — who likewise took over the 8 Ball Tavern in Cotati circa 2018 — is calling some of the reports on what happened that night “erroneous.” He tells the Argus-Courier: “The management of Jamison’s Roaring Donkey is actively reviewing video, interviewing witnesses and bar staff. They do not feel they have gathered enough information to make a determinative statement regarding the incident as a whole.” Petaluma detectives, too, are looking for more witnesses and surveillance video; they’re encouraging anyone with leads to contact Officer Nathan Good at (707) 781-1262 or [email protected]. (Source: Petaluma Police Department via Facebook & Petaluma Argus-Courier & Sonoma County Sheriff)
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