Fort Worth Chief "Happy With Restraint"

By Amita Parashar

Fort Worth, Texas, police chief Jeff Halstead justified the Sunday morning raid of gay bar Rainbow Lounge, citing "advances" made by patrons prior to the incident. He also praised the "restraint" exercised by officers at the scene.

"You're touched and advanced in certain ways by people inside the bar, that's offensive. I'm happy with the restraint used when they were contacted like that," he told Dallas-Fort Worth TV station WFAA.

The Fort Worth Police Department will conduct an internal investigation regarding the raid.

The raid resulted in seven arrests and the hospitalization of Chad Gibson, who suffered a brain injury. Halstead also excused the violence by blaming Gibson's injury on state agents .

Witnesses have denied allegations that patrons provoked the officers.

Watch WFAA's report here .

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Name: J. Michael Click
Date posted: 7/8/2009 8:51:00 PM
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX

Comment:
Hi, Jay in Santa Monica, Just to update you on Chad Gibson, the young man who was assaulted by TABC officers: the GLBT community in Fort Worth, joined by many friends from Dallas county, held a candlelight vigil for Chad on July 1 during which we collected donations to help defray his medical expenses. It was well covered by the media. Our mayor, Mike Moncrief, has requested that once the investigation into what happened at the Rainbow Lounge is completed, that the US Justice Department review the findings. There is a demonstration planned for Friday, July 9, in downtown Fort Worth, at which we are planning to demand additional independent review of the investigation. Happily, Mr. Gibson has been released from the hospital and is telling his story. Our community remains fiercely committed to making sure that Mr. Gibson receives the justice he deserves and that travesties such as the Rainbow raid are not perpetrated in the future.
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Name: David MacCall
Date posted: 7/2/2009 1:39:00 PM
Hometown: vb

Comment:
I got an email back from the Pre. of the Dallas Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce- says he's talked to the mayor (Moncrief) and is satisfied the police chief is appropriately investigating the problem. To raid a bar on the anniversary of Stonewall would be like raiding a black club celebrating Selma.
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Name: Bob Smullen
Date posted: 7/2/2009 12:24:00 PM
Hometown: Hackensack, NJ

Comment:
Sounds like it is time for the FBI to be called in. City and State level authorities can not be trusted to investigate themselves. Will President Obama uphold his stated commitment to civil rights and the rule of law? Or will he look the other way?
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Name: Maureen Keiller
Date posted: 7/2/2009 11:18:00 AM
Hometown: Hull, MA

Comment:
He's probably been in the stall over from Larry Craig.
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Name: Warren
Date posted: 7/2/2009 10:45:00 AM
Hometown: New York City

Comment:
my question is why were they even in the bar?
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Name: Chris Sullivan
Date posted: 7/2/2009 10:16:00 AM
Hometown: Chicago, IL

Comment:
He's an obvious and blatant liar and should be FIRED!
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Name: Bob
Date posted: 7/2/2009 8:52:00 AM
Hometown: Houston

Comment:
He was just doing his job people. Stop crussifying him.
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Name: Jay
Date posted: 7/2/2009 8:07:00 AM
Hometown: Santa Monica

Comment:
J. Michael Click: Thanks for your posting. Glad to hear that Ft. Worth is more progressive than I thought. I hope that this stupid police chief is brought to heel soon. Meanwhile, don't forget the young man who was so viciously assaulted by people who are supposed to protect us.
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Name: bill
Date posted: 7/2/2009 7:42:00 AM
Hometown: DECATUR GA

Comment:
ok i know jeff is ft worth not dallas my error but i stand behind the theory "if it walks like a duck if it quacks like a duck, and you know the rest. i've seen that man somewhere before ....could it be when joel olsteins brother in dallas refused funeral services lets look into this mans pass jeff is not without a glass closet
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Name: bill
Date posted: 7/2/2009 7:36:00 AM
Hometown: DECATUR GA

Comment:
hmm hmm stone wall all over again, is JEFF trying to get press time for his picture in the papers seems to me aclu should step in and file law suit against JEFF, THE DALLAS POLICE , AND THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR THIS RAID..... IS IT ME OR DOES HIS PICTURE LOOK FAMILAR, i ve seen him somewhere before

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