lifeguard beaten after asking his assailants to stop smoking on the pier

[Liberal_in_LA]

A lifeguard whose attack by three people in Venice was captured on video had simply asked his assailants to stop smoking on the pier, one of the lifeguard’s supervisors said Friday.

The full-time lifeguard, who has been with the department for 10 years, was jumped by two men and a woman as soon as he hopped off the ladder at his tower at the Venice Pier on Thursday evening, authorities said.
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The LAPD identified the two men as Harutiun Balyan, 30, and Ara Sarkisyan, 28. The woman was identified as Arusiak Gekchyan, 28. All three were arrested on suspicion of battery on an executive officer, a felony. They have been freed on bail, LAPD officials said.

Video of Thursday night’s confrontation was captured by pier visitors and posted on social media.

“This is the first time something like this has happened that I can recall,” said county lifeguard Capt. Kenichi Haskett. “We don’t get into physical altercations.”


The video shows two men swinging wildly at the lifeguard the moment he was off the ladder. Haskett said the lifeguard got down from the tower so he could have a clear conversation with the group. There’s a no smoking sign when you walk on the pier and lifeguards routinely ask people to not break the rules, Haskett said.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-lifeguard-attack-venice-20150731-story.html

[tomm2thumbs]

1. I would probably politely let that guy leave the life guard patrol and find other work

A flicked cigarette, no matter how infuriating, should not end up with him jumping down on top of them. That's not how this job works. He showed he lost his cool and should be shown the front door before he really causes serious legal issues for the city.

And this is the kind of escalation you don't need, especially when it was his job to maintain order. If someone flicks a cigarette butt, there are much better ways to handle it. I dare say he and the city will be in court as the other folks are going to point at the video and say he jumped down on them from what the video shows.

[Egnever]

3. Agreed

Looks like he beat people as much as he was getting beat, He seemed to be looking for it.

[tomm2thumbs]

4. I smell a settlement coming...

Quite legally damning to hear what the Captain said:

“This is the first time something like this has happened that I can recall,” said county lifeguard Capt. Kenichi Haskett.

“We don’t get into physical altercations.”

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. Haskett said the lifeguard got down from the tower so he could have a clear conversation with the gr

Haskett said the lifeguard got down from the tower so he could have a clear conversation with the group.

[tomm2thumbs]

7. Lifeguards apparently are under the auspices of the Fire Department

This appeared to be entirely out of line with what Fire Department personnel are trained to do.

I love what you called attention to -- the absurdity of presenting the lifeguard's reaction as simply wanting to meet up with the other people to have 'a clear conversation'

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. it kind looked that way to me also. that the lifeguard jumped down to confront.

[itsrobert]

11. He didn't jump down ON TOP OF THEM

The video clearly shows the lifeguard jumped onto the ground and was immediately attacked.

[tomm2thumbs]

12. I pulled the original and have checked it in slow motion many times

Obviously this is only my view, but he not only appears to swing his arm at the head of the guy in white as he lunges off the 5th step above the ground, it also looks like he grabs the buoy and swings it towards the head of one of the group. He also does not use all the steps to climb down. And yes, in fact, he does jump on top of them, not straight down the step ladder.

Additionally, I don't think anyone in their right mind would think that he came down those steps to have a nice chat. He escalated it. I'm not saying it isn't human, but it isn't the way he should have been trained to handle this situation.

I would not have that man on my staff after that performance. A big liability.

[tomm2thumbs]

13. Later in the video, the lifeguard admits what triggered it

2nd Lifeguard "What happened" (off camera)
1st Lifeguard: "They were passing by... flicked a cigarette in my tower."


He did not feel attacked nor did he say they threw it at him...

_______


I don't blame him for being pissed. I do blame him for how he handled it.

[tomm2thumbs]

14. The lifeguard in question was placed on leave according to lifeguard Captain Kenichi Haskett

I think this is going to be dealt with in the courts, and the lawyers (and victims) can get a nice piece of chump change from the city.

Such a really nice image for the city to be projecting to tourists and visitors from out of the city or country. American lifeguards aren't able to maintain their composure against a simple flicked cigarette butt and exchange of words. Wow. The guard could have issued a citation or called for back-up to charge them with littering while he maintained his post, but instead thought it was worth initiating a brawl and causing a scene.

Really, really unprofessional behavior on the lifeguard, who I'm sure was 100% trained otherwise.

[Islandurp]

2. He handled himself well

[tomm2thumbs]

8. Video appears to be pulled - in case you want to replace it

[tomm2thumbs]

10. I just noticed the guy using the orange cone as a bat - omg

gotta give him credit for protecting himself from being accused of using a deadly weapon.

[zappaman]

9. Assaulting a lifeguard is a federal offense.

He handled himself fine against drunken douchebags.

[cpwm17]

18. Yes, they walked under the lifeguard as he was getting off the tower

and then they attacked him.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

15. Those names are interesting.

Russian? Armenian? (Can't watch the vid...)

[tomm2thumbs]

16. from what I gathered, Armenian

I believe both sides are speaking Armenian. After they exchanged words, it is alleged that the guy on the pier said to the lifeguard in Armenian 'come down - I will f*ck everything you love'. The lifeguard allegedly responded 'I will f*ck your mom'.

This is from someone who was trying to translate the Armenian heard in the video. I cannot vouch for it, but it sounds like it is possible, given what is seen on the tape.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

17. Thanks, I just find names interesting. (n/t)

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. update.. more video found -Lifeguard attacked on Venice pier poured water on group, video shows

Moments before a lifeguard was pummeled on the Venice Beach pier last week he poured a bucket of water on two of his assailants, a new video of the incident shows.

The video, recorded by two beachgoers on the sand some distance away from the attack and obtained by The Times, shows several people exchanging loud, unintelligible words with a lifeguard standing on the tower before one attempts to climb the tower ladder.


Another person pulls the climber down before he reaches the top and the lifeguard goes into his tower – apparently to call authorities, said Los Angeles County lifeguard Capt. Kenichi Haskett, who reviewed the footage.

After emerging from the tower, the confrontation between the lifeguard and group below continued at the foot of the ladder, the video showed. Though the words can’t be made out, the video shows the woman gesturing up to the lifeguard with both arms. A second later, in one swift motion, the lifeguard grabs a bucket full of water at his feet and pours it on a woman and a man standing next to her.

“I’m assuming it was a way to cool them down. I think that was the desired effect, in my personal opinion. But I’m not speaking for the department,” Haskett told The Times on Monday.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-lifeguard-attack-venice-2150803-story.html