What's an officals?

Reilly's bouncer arrested
Action follows battery caught on video

Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer

MICHIGAN CITY - The Reilly's Sports Bar & Grill bouncer caught on video hitting and kicking a patron last month has been arrested.

Eric Ralph Polomcak, 40, Niles, Mich., was arrested at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at the police station on a warrant for battery. The charge stemmed from a Sept. 20 confrontation outside the bar with patron Eryc Calvin, 26, Michigan City.

In the 28-second clip, which filmers Omar Lewis and Coston Anderson of Michigan City posted on MySpace and YouTube, Polomcak punched Calvin in the face four times. After Calvin was on the ground, Polomcak asked, "Now we done?" before kicking him in the upper body.

Bar employees claimed Calvin was causing trouble in the bar that forced them to kick him out. A doorman, 27-year-old Jason Camp, South Bend, filed a battery report against Calvin for pushing him before the video was recorded. Police said that report is still under investigation.

Attorney Greg Sarkisian, Portage, who is representing Calvin and his family, said they are considering a civil suit against the bar involving the case.

Beating victim files civil suit against bar

Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer

MICHIGAN CITY - A man shown on video being punched several times by a Reilly's Sports Bar & Grill bouncer has filed a civil lawsuit against the bar, seeking monetary compensation for his medical and emotional injuries.

Eryc Calvin, 26, Michigan City, filed the suit Dec. 15 in Michigan City Superior Court through his attorneys, Greg Sarkisian and Chris Grabarek of Portage.

"What happened to him was not justified in the slightest," Grabarek said. "He should be compensated for the injuries he suffered."

The incident happened after Calvin was reportedly kicked out of the bar at 1103 Franklin St. in the early morning hours of Sept. 20. In the 28-second video clip, which filmers Omar Lewis and Coston Anderson of Michigan City posted on MySpace and YouTube, bouncer Eric Polomcak can be seen punching Calvin in the face four times. After Calvin was on the ground, Polomcak asked, "Now we done?" before kicking him in the upper body.

Calvin said his lip was cut during the fight, and he still has severe headaches. The fight also has made him more nervous while doing his job as a guard at Westville Correctional Facility.

"There is lasting damage here," Grabarek said.

Polomcak, 40, Niles, Mich., was arrested Oct. 21 on a warrant for battery in the incident.

Bar employees claimed Calvin was causing trouble in the bar that forced them to kick him out. Another doorman, 27-year-old Jason Camp, South Bend, filed a battery report against Calvin for pushing him before the video was recorded, but police found no basis for the charge.

Bar owner Mark Killerman, Polomcak and Camp are named responsible parties in the suit, beside the bar itself, according to court documents. The suit also claims Killerman and his business failed to reasonably protect Calvin, a patron, from injury, and that Killerman was negligent in the hiring and training of his bar's bouncers.

Calvin is requesting a jury trial, according to court documents.

Bouncer accused of battery wants change of venue

By Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 4:14 AM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — The Reilly’s Sports Bar & Grill bouncer caught on video hitting and kicking a patron in September is asking for a change of venue for his trial due to negative publicity.

Eric Ralph Polomcak, 41, Niles, Mich., is facing a battery charge stemming from the Sept. 20 confrontation with patron Eryc Calvin, 26, Michigan City.

Polomcak said in court Tuesday he doesn’t feel he can receive a fair and impartial trial in La Porte County because he was once attacked and received several threats while working at the bar, and is still frequently asked about the incident.

“On the Internet there are still chat rooms where you can discuss what happened,” he said. “People were saying they should do drivebys, that boys from Gary would come shoot me down.”

The assault on Polomcak happened a few weeks after the first News-Dispatch article was printed Oct. 4 about the video and battery report filed with police, he said. He was standing inside the front door to the bar when a man pushed his way past another doorman and threw a beer bottle at his face, he said.

“Why are you still working there if you face unyielding intimidation and threats to do so?” Deputy Prosecutor Alan Sirinek said.

“I might be careful, but I’m not gonna go through my life scared,” Polomcak replied. “There are a few people there I love and I enjoy seeing, just like you love your job.”

In the 28-second video clip, which filmers Omar Lewis and Coston Anderson of Michigan City posted on MySpace and YouTube, Polomcak punched Calvin in the face four times. After Calvin was on the ground, Polomcak asked, “Now we done?” before kicking him in the upper body. Bar employees claimed Calvin was causing trouble in the bar that forced them to kick him out.

Polomcak said he has not filed formal reports with the police department about the assault and other threats, but he has told his friends who are police officers about what has happened.

Polomcak’s attorney, James O. Cupp, asked for a continuance to the hearing because he wanted to subpoena a News-Dispatch reporter to testify about the paper’s coverage of the case. Magistrate Judge Greta Friedman said she would issue an order regarding the case within the next two weeks.

Trial date set for bouncer

Published: Thursday, December 2, 2010 5:09 PM CST
MICHIGAN CITY — A trial date has been set for the Reilly’s Sports Bar & Grill bouncer caught on video hitting and kicking a patron last year.

Eric Ralph Polomcak, Plymouth, Indiana, faces a battery charge stemming from the Sept. 20, 2009, confrontation with Michigan City resident Eryc Calvin. His trial has been set to begin June 21.

In the 28-second video clip, which filmers Omar Lewis and Coston Anderson of Michigan City posted on MySpace and YouTube, a man identified as Polomcak punched Calvin in the face four times. After Calvin was on the ground, Polomcak asked, “Now we done?,” before kicking him in the upper body. Bar employees claimed Calvin was causing trouble in the bar that forced them to kick him out.

The case, which was transferred to La Porte Superior Court 2 Judge Richard Stalbrink in September, has been stalled for months. Deputy Prosecutor Alan Sirinek said in court Wednesday he was unsure what happened with the case until Stalbrink discovered it on his docket.

“Apparently a recusal was entered by the magistrate judge,” Stalbrink said.

Magistrate Judge Greta Friedman originally presided over the case.

This happened over a year ago and his trial starts 7 months from now?

Is that right?

This happened over a year ago and his trial starts 7 months from now?

Is that right?

No, Tim, I lied

No, Tim, I lied

OUCH! I love it. the girl has attitude. Tim, I bet you felt that all the way in Japan. You go NDR.

Wow - thankfully you don't write the humor column.



As long as I have your ear -

** threadjack warning **

What happened to the Anvil Chorus in the online edition?

** threadjack over **

We have a new editor, so that might be part of it. But I thought we were still loading everything at 5 p.m. CST. I'll ask.

Bouncer pleads guilty to battery

By Tim Moran
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 5:09 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — Eric Polomcak, the bouncer at Reilly's Sports Bar & Grill who was accused of hitting and kicking a patron in 2009, an incident that was captured on video, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery at his final pre-trial conference June 10.

The trial had been set to begin Tuesday morning in La Porte Superior Court 2, with Judge Richard Stalbrink presiding.

The agreement, made between Polomcak's attorney James Cupp and Prosecutor David Bishop, was accepted June 19 by Senior Judge Steven King in La Porte County Superior Court 2.

On Sept. 20, 2009, Polomcak, of Plymouth, Ind., had been shown on video engaged in a confrontation with Reilly's patron and Michigan City resident Eryc Calvin.

Click here to find out more!
The film, which was taken by Omar Lewis and Coston Anderson of Michigan City, was posted on MySpace and Youtube. The video shows Polomcak punching Calvin in the face four times and kicking him in the upper body after he fell to the ground.

In the agreement, Polomcak pleaded guilty to battery, a Class B misdemeanor. The state has agreed to dismiss the case on June 1, 2012 if Polomcak is not arrested for a criminal offense until that date.

"It is a status date as of right now," said Court Reporter Laura J. DePyssler. "Judgement is held for one year after the plea agreement."

The case was originally assigned to Magistrate Judge Greta Friedman, but was moved in September 2010 to Superior Court 2 and Judge Stalbrink.

Four injured in shooting

STAFF REPORTS

Published: Thursday, March 20, 2014 5:06 PM CDT

MICHIGAN CITY — Four people were injured, three from gunshot wounds, following an incident at Reilly’s bar, 1103 Franklin St., early Wednesday morning.

A large group of people began to fight and argue when one of those involved began firing a weapon.

Three people suffered gunshot wounds, though none were life-threatening. The victims received wounds to the finger, calf and foot.

One of those shot was not involved in the altercation, but had just arrived at the bar with a friend when the gunfire began.

Michigan City police officers discovered eight shell casings at the scene.

MCPD has two suspects in the case who live in a residence in the 1100 block of Providence Street. Following the incident at Reilly’s, there was a report of shots fired at the home. No injuries were reported in that incident.

“We are concerned with the level of violence occurring at Reilly’s bar,” Chief of Police Mark Swistek said. “I assure the community that the incident will be fully investigated and police will be speaking with the Reilly’s management team to avert further acts of violence.”

A call to Reilly’s on Wednesday seeking comment went unanswered.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Jillian Ashley at the Michigan City Police Department at 219-874-3221.

Police sweep Reilly's

Bar hit with multiple violations; 6 people arrested

By ANDY STEINKE
Staff Writer

Published: Sunday, March 30, 2014 7:57 PM CDT

MICHIGAN CITY — A Michigan City bar is facing more than a dozen charges after local and state law enforcement officials conducted a compliance sweep of the business early Sunday morning.

Officers from Michigan City Police, the La Porte County Sheriff's Department and Indiana State Excise Police visited Reilly's Bar, 1103 Franklin St., around 2 a.m. Sunday resulting in several violations and a half dozen arrests.

MCPD has received 134 calls for service to the bar in the last year, according to a State Excise Police news release, including an incident March 19 that left three people needing treatment for gunshot wounds.

"I've been working with (State Excise Police) closely ever since our calls for service have increased at that establishment," Michigan City Police Chief Mark Swistek said. "It is being taken seriously."


*
Swistek said both he and Mayor Ron Meer were at the bar for the compliance check.

"We both feel the same, that we will continue investigating into Reilly's until there is a reduction in calls to service there," Swistek said.

Reilly's received preliminary citations for: Allowing a minor to loiter, selling alcohol to a minor, being a public nuisance, failing to maintain a "high and fine" reputation, having an unlicensed employee, failing to maintain employee permit records, selling alcohol to an intoxicated person, hindering enforcement of the Alcoholic Beverage Code, misbranding alcoholic beverages and various unspecified gaming violations, according to the news release.

According to reports officers also arrested six people at the bar:

• Dontarius Le Pre Garrett, 24, 802 Thomas St., was arrested on county and MCPD warrants for criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor, and for failure to appear in court for dealing marijuana. He also was arrested for resisting law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor; possession of a synthetic marijuana (K2), a class A misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor.

• Darnell Crawford, 35, 306 Herring Gull Lane, was arrested on a La Porte County warrant for failure to stop for an accident, a class B misdemeanor, and cited for giving a false identity, a class A misdemeanor, and public intoxication, a class B misdemeanor.

• Lawrence Lovell Thompkins, 41, 213 Detroit St., was arrested on an MCPD warrant for failure to appear for driving while suspended, a class A misdemeanor.

• Donald Edmond Webb II, 33, 218 South Court, was arrested for battery to a law enforcement officer, a class D felony, and for resisting arrest, a class A misdemeanor.

• Two unnamed women, ages 19 and 20, were cited for being in a tavern as minors and for underage drinking.

That place needs to go.