Bouncer at Causeway Street bar whipped out some pepper spray to subdue unruly patrons; got his manager, too

When a patron who'd been in a fight at the Harp, 85 Causeway St., refused to let bouncers and the manager keep him out and started getting out of hand, a bouncer took out a canister of pepper spray and got him - and one of his pals right in the face. But his aim was not quite true, so his own manager got some in his eyes as well, the manager and police told the Boston Licensing Board today.

The board held a hearing on a citation by police for "assault and battery with a dangerous weapon employee on patrons" for the June 1 incident.

According to police and the bar manager, a couple of groups got into a fight around 12:45 a.m. inside the bar. Both were ejected. But while one group walked away, a man from the other group and at least one friend stayed behind and tried to get back inside.

The manager told him "tonight's not the night," that he would be allowed to return another night, but to just walk away. But the guy didn't, and just grew more and more incensed. The manager said the guy then moved towards one of the bouncers who, in the word's of the police report, "deployed" a caniister of pepper spray.

He said that immediately after, bar workers went inside to get some water for the people who'd been sprayed to rinse out their eyes. EMTs treated the two patrons on scene; they declined a trip to nearby Mass. General.

The manager said he was surprised the bouncer had the canister while he was on duty. He said pepper spray is legal and he realizes some employees have it for protection after they close up the bar and go home early in the morning, but that the bar does not condone employees spraying people with it while they're on duty. The bouncer was suspended for a week and all employees were told to leave the pepper spray behind when they arrive at work.

The board decides Thursday whether the Harp could have prevented the incident and, if so, whether it merits any sort of punishment.