JAMAICA: Police Beat Patrons In Bar Raid

Last week Jamaican police raided a Montego Bay gay bar, severely attacking its patrons. Rex Wockner reports at Bay Windows:

Around 20 officers kicked in doors, shouted anti-gay slurs, beat and pistol-whipped patrons, and made everyone leave, J-FLAG said. As the customers fled, patrons of nearby straight clubs pelted them with bottles and rocks, J-FLAG said. Ten of the raid’s victims sought medical treatment for injuries sustained in the attack, according to J-FLAG. There was a similar raid in early February at a gay club in Kingston, the capital. Officials have provided no explanation for either incident.

Following the raid, local LGBT activist Maurice Tomlinson received an emailed death threat which he forwarded to police "in case anything happens to me."

Charges Dropped In Dallas Bathhouse Raid

Last October eleven men were arrested at a Dallas bathhouse in a raid that police claim was spurred by an unidentified complaining citizen. Yesterday charges were dropped against seven of the men. The Dallas Voice reports:

Attorney Michael Lowe, who represents one of the defendants, told Instant Tea he expects charges to be dismissed against the remainder of the men in the next few days. Lowe said the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office is dismissing the charges because prosecutors don’t believe they can prove that the defendants are guilty. Seven of the defendants were charged with public lewdness, three were charged with indecent exposure and one was charged with interfering with police. DPD’s vice unit has said it conducted the raid, which made national news and was the first at a gay bathhouse in Dallas in recent memory, in response to a citizen complaint.

Police have yet to identify the supposed complainer.

CALIFORNIA: Palm Springs Police Chief Resigns In Wake Of Gay Slur Scandal

Less than a week after he admitted to and apologized for calling gay men "filthy motherfuckers," Palm Springs police chief David Dominguez is resigning.

"After careful consideration of the recent debates surrounding the Warm Sands Law Enforcement Operation, I believe this decision is in the best interest of my family, my health, the Department and the City," Dominguez said in a statement. "It has been a privilege to be the Chief of Police and work with the professional men, women and volunteers in the Police Department who are extremely dedicated to the community."

Dominguez has faced fierce criticism for operating public sex stings that focus on gay men.

Atlanta Mayor Apologizes For Eagle Raid

(Via - Georgia Voice)

ATLANTA: City To Pay $1M Settlement Over Police Raid At Eagle Nightclub

The city of Atlanta has agreed to pay a $1M settlement over last year's outrageous police raid of the Eagle, a popular leather bar where employees and patrons were forced to lie on a filthy floor as cops reportedly shouted anti-gay slurs. The Georgia Voice reports:

The Atlanta City Council voted unanimously this afternoon to approve a $1.025 million settlement in a federal lawsuit over the Atlanta Police Department's 2009 raid on the Atlanta Eagle, a gay bar on Ponce de Leon Avenue. The settlement must now go back to the federal judge for final approval. All parties in the case are under a gag order until the settlement is finalized. Before the vote, the council met in closed executive session to discuss the proposed settlement, which was reached Friday between city attorneys and attorneys for patrons and employees of the Eagle. The settlement resolution includes $1.025 million to go into an escrow account with Lambda Legal, one of two nonprofit legal groups that joined attorney Dan Grossman in representing the Eagle plaintiffs. The Southern Center for Human Rights also joined the case.

Those arrested on the night of the raid either had their charges dismissed or were found not guilty.

BELARUS: Gays Arrested And Roughed Up By Police At Slavic Pride

Today Minsk cops burst out of a police bus several times to chase and arrest young gay men displaying rainbow flags at the city's Slavic Pride event. Early reports claim riot police beat and arrested several dozen participants. At times, the foreign press outnumbered both the police and the protesters. I'll be updating this post all day, below are the first images.