Ex-Cop of the Week

SALT LAKE CITY (CN) - A nightclub bouncer claims a former sheriff's deputy who is "a trained prize fighter" beat him viciously, fracturing an eye socket and his nose, because he tried to remove the man from the club for publicly masturbating while watching erotic dancers. Jacob Alba says he was hospitalized after the beating from Mike Stidham and two other mixed martial arts fighters.

Alba was working security at the Show Club on Jan. 11, 2009, when Stidham became "belligerent and unruly," according to the complaint in Salt Lake County Court.

Stidham "is a former sheriff's deputy, a trained prize fighter, and a prominent fight promoter affiliated with 'the Ultimate Combat Experience,' a professional mixed of Utah," the complaint states.

Alba says Stidham "was at the Show Club with at least two other MMA professional fighters, consuming alcohol and viewing the club's erotic dancing and adult entertainment."

He says that "As the evening progressed, defendant became increasingly belligerent and unruly. Employees and club patrons seated near defendant Stidham became concerned as defendant's disruptive behavior escalated from merely being an annoyance into presenting a potential safety concern, and they notified the club's security personnel."

Alba says he told them en "to desist and restrain themselves," to no avail.

"Defendant's conduct deteriorated even further however, and at one point he reportedly unfastened his pants, exposed his genitals, and began clutching and stroking his penis as he watched the club's dancers perform," the complaint states.

So Alba asked the men to leave.

"As Mr. Alba was attempting to herd and escort the alcohol-impaired defendant and his party from the club, there was a brief exchange of shoving between Alba and Stidham, upon which Stidham and his MMA cohorts unleashed a brutal gang-style attack on Mr. Alba," the complaint states.

"The three-on-one assault of Mr. Alba by the professional kick-boxers was partially captured by the club's video surveillance system. Defendant Stidham can be seen punching Mr. Alba, knocking him to the concrete floor, and thrashing him on the floor while his friends swarmed in and repeatedly kicked Alba in the head and abdomen," the complaint states.

The attackers fled, and Alba was "rushed to the hospital, where he was treated for severe injuries including nasal fractures, a shattered eye socket, lacerations, contusions and bruises," he says.

Alba "was disabled and unable to return to work for several weeks," and "continues to suffer residual headaches and internal cranial pressures as a result of the brutal assault."

Stidham was convicted of felony assault on Dec. 15, the complaint states.

Alba seeks punitive damages for assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and medical bills.He is represented by Michael Zundel with Prince, Yeates & Geldzahler.

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