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Police confirmed they are investigating a video, which shows a bouncer at Milo’s Cantina on Main Street in Poughkeepsie, putting a chokehold on a customer, Mike Boyce, who had been involved in a dispute over his bar tab.
“So as some of you may have seen in conversation, my husband Mike Boyce was assaulted by the bouncer at Milo's Cantina for no good reason,” his wife, Jade, posted on Facebook. “The kind of assault you see where someone accidentally dies from strangulation. I’ve since reached out to the owner, which also is the owner of Schatzi's Pub & Bier Garden of Poughkeepsie next door, with no response.”
In the video - which has more than 77,000 views on YouTube and 650,000 views on Facebook - the bouncer could be heard shouting “I will put you to sleep” while the manager stood by as the bouncer struggled with Boyce on the floor. She was also caught on camera arguing with the man recording the video before locking the man doing the video outside the bar.
Boyce’s wife said that he met with friends for drinks and when he attempted to head outside to collect money for the balance of their bill, the situation escalated with the manager and bouncer.
While he was locked out, the videographer caught the bouncer kicking the man several times while he was down before pulling the patron up and continuing the confrontation.
“He was then taken to the ground, put in a choke hold for several minutes, kneed and punched in the head and robbed by the staff and held behind locked doors where no one could help him, all visible in the video,” his wife noted.
In a statement released on Monday afternoon, Poughkeepsie Det. Lt. Matt Clark said that there is additional video that has been obtained by police as the investigation into the incident continues.
"Responding officers found the disturbance was over upon their arrival," Clark said. "Allegedly what lead up to what is seen in the video involves an unpaid bar tab.
"There is an allegation of a knife being involved. There is also more video than what has been posted in social media.
"At this time, the police department is trying to obtain all pertinent video and the investigation is continuing. No charges have been filed at this time."
The complete Youtube video can be seen here. (Warning: graphic content.)
This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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