Bathroom Beating: RTD Guard Allegedly Assaulted Denver Man

DENVER, CO -- Denver police announced that they arrested a private security guard who allegedly assaulted a man at Union Station in a men's bathroom because "there [were] no cameras in there."

James Hunter, 34, was charged with second-degree assault on May 29 for an incident that occurred April 20, according to an arrest affidavit.

The man who was assaulted told police he was hospitalized for a week with a brain injury. He reported the assault to Denver police May 17. He told police he attended a party April 19 and entered Union Station at 1701 Wyncoop Street to catch public transportation home around 12:30 a.m. He said he was surrounded by security guards who kept telling him to leave. He told police he was escorted into the men's bathroom by one guard, and then woke up in his home two days later. He had no memory of the assault, although he was able to describe the guard with whom he entered the bathroom.

Hunter was one of several private security guards, employed by Allied Universal security company under contract to RTD at Denver's Union Station, Denver police said. Hunter's colleagues told police that a man entered the station around 1:30 a.m. and sat alone on a bench. According to the other security guards, the man began to "get mouthy" to three guards, including Hunter, the affidavit said.

Another colleague submitted a statement to police May 21 based on an eye-witness testimony of another guard who shared the early morning shift with Hunter. According to the statement, Hunter allegedly began to antagonize the man, saying "so you think you're tough, huh? You think you're tough, prove it." When the man pointed out there was only one of him and three security guards, Hunter "suggested they go into the men's restroom where he could 'prove it,' because there were no cameras in the restrooms," the affidavit said.

The man and Hunter walked into the restroom together, and Hunter came out alone,"with an amused look on his face," the statement said. He allegedly said to another guard in a lowered voice "someone might want to call EMS, there's a guy on the ground in there. Looks like he must have fallen and hit his head."

Video surveillance showed Hunter entering the men's restroom with the man, the police affidavit said.

Hunter was taken into custody on May 29. RTD is working with Denver police on this investigation, police said in a statement.

Image via Denver Police Dept.