CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte bar announced it has terminated its relationship with a third-party security company after a bouncer's brutal assault on a woman was caught on video over the weekend.
The incident happened at Billy Jack's Shack in NoDa early Saturday morning. WCNC Charlotte obtained the video of the altercation from the woman, who shared her disturbing story. The company that provides security for Billy Jack's Shack in NoDa admitted the incident wasn't handled correctly.
"I was just bouncing around," Lynette Matusik said, describing what happened late Friday into Saturday. "I was looking for food at the end of the night and I went into Billy Jack's Shack."
Instead of walking away with a full stomach, Matusik walked away with something that was hard to stomach. She recorded her night on a pair of Meta Ray-Ban glasses, which uses cameras that are built into the frames. The video is then sent over to her phone.
"I walked into the bar and I saw the bartender and waved her down trying to get a food menu," Matusik said. "And that’s when a guy grabbed by arm.”
She said the man, who she later learned was a bartender, grabbed Matusik and lifted her into the air. The video shows the bouncer throw her to the ground and place his hand on her throat. Matusik can be heard gasping for air as the bouncer yells homophobic slurs.
The bartender called police after Matusik was taken outside. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded, as did Medic, and Matusick was taken to the hospital. She shared several photos with WCNC Charlotte showing bruises and injuries on her body.
A general manager at Billy Jack's said he wasn't there during the altercation but heard about it. The manager added that the bouncer asked for an ID but Matusik didn't provide it to him. Matusik disputes that claim, saying she never heard anything about showing the bouncer an ID.
When shown Matusik's injuries and video of the incident, the general manager declined to comment if the situation warranted the bouncer's reaction.
Billy Jack's said it uses Gridiron Protection Services, a third-party company, for its security. The owner said no one should be choked when providing security. Both Billy Jack's and Gridiron initially declined comment when asked if the bouncer would receive an infraction or discipline for the incident.
On Sunday, Billy Jack's Shack announced it terminated its business relationship with Gridiron Protection Services. The bar posted the following statement on its Facebook page:
"The event on Friday night unfolded in a way that contradicts the very thing that Billy Jack's stands for. An incident with a non-compliant customer and a third party security company has led us to reassess our partnerships. It's important to us that the values of every entity we associate with align seamlessly with our own.
After careful consideration, we've made the decision to terminate our relationship with the security company involved.
Our dedication to ensuring a safe and enjoyable environment for both our guests and staff remains unwavering. We see this as an opportunity to learn and grow, constantly refining our practices to uphold the standards that define the unique spirt of Billy Jack's."
Matuski said she wants to spread the word because no one deserves to endure what she faced.
"Do better, we can do better. I just want us to grow from this," Matusik said. "We all have layers to who we are, and those layers can make you a target, even if you don't talk about it and this experience is a reflection of that reality."
Contact Austin Walker at awalker@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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