Florida Bar Bouncer Lit on Fire After Booting Patron

A Sunday evening dispute over a bar tab in Port St. Lucie turned violent when police say the patron, who couldn’t pay, returned and set a bouncer on fire.

While a search for the suspect in the case continued Tuesday, police have released details of the events that led up to the ongoing manhunt for Ivan Louis Rodriguez.

Police say Rodriguez, 45, paid a visit to Neely’s Grog House Sunday evening and was ultimately kicked out for not being able to pay his tab. The bartender, who is married to the bouncer, told police Rodriquez tried at first to pay up using a personal check.

”In the past, the suspect’s checks have bounced so he was asked to pay with either debit or cash,” a police department media release stated.

When Rodriguez couldn’t produce the money, he attempted to earn enough cash to cover the bill by challenging other patrons to games of pool at the bar’s tables, the release stated.

“After learning the suspect was trying to make money at the pool tables, he was ejected from the bar by the bouncer,” police wrote.

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Accepting a shorted till, the bar’s employees went about their usual Sunday night business.

But, Rodriguez wasn’t finished with Neely’s, police wrote.

He is accused of returning around 9:45 p.m. and tossing a cup of gasoline on the bouncer who booted him from the establishment. The bouncer and a patron chased Rodriquez out of the bar, the release stated, and tackled him in the parking lot.

At some point during the scuffle, Rodriguez is accused of sparking a lighter and causing the bouncer’s clothing to ignite. He then took off in a pickup truck and hasn’t been seen since. The bar’s surveillance captured much of the encounter on video.

Police say the bouncer suffered serious burns on his arms, chest and face. He was airlifted to a burn unit in Miami.

In the meantime, police are asking anyone who knows of Rodriguez’s whereabouts to call them at 727-871-5001 or to notify local law enforcement immediately.

Photo of Ivan Rodriguez courtesy of the Port St. Lucie Police Department

To view surveillance video of the incident, click here. Warning the video contains graphic images.

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