Zachary McGinnis after he was hit with glass
An internal investigation into an incident reported by Dallas Voice on Friday, Aug. 1, is already underway, according to Dallas Fire Rescue spokesman Lt. Joel Lavender, who said the department is interested in speaking to anyone who witnessed the incident.
Zachary McGinnis alleges that after he was hit in the head with a glass at BJ’s on night last week, paramedics refused him treatment because of the blood.
“It hurts that any group feels they’re treated that way, but we hold our people accountable,” Lavendar said. “Our brand is only as good as the last time we serviced you. We aim for top-notch service and nothing less.”
Lavender said DFR recently went through department-wide diversity training.
McGinnis said he got a call from Norman Seals with DFR on Friday to take his statement. McGinnis said Seals told him a paramedic shouldn’t refuse treatment to anyone.
Anyone who witnessed the incident can contact internal affairs at 214-670-7020 or emergency medical services (EMS) at 214-670-4311.
A man identifying himself as David Bell, who said he is a frequent customer at BJ’s, contacted Dallas Voice to say he witnessed the altercation. He said the man who hit McGinnis is the husband of the woman to whom McGinnis was talking, and that the husband hit McGinnis after McGinnis got “too touchy-feely” with the woman.
Bell, who said he has spoken to the club’s assistant manager about the incident, said that the BJ’s bartender had returned McGinnis’ credit card before the altercation took place and that McGinnis had no open bar tab. Bell said that a BJ’s employee escorted McGinnis and the man who hit him out of the bar, and that he — Bell — followed them outside.
Bell said he heard the paramedic say the gloves he was wearing had blood on them and that he didn’t have another pair to put on, and therefore it would be unsafe for him to treat McGinnis.
A friend who was with McGinnis at the time of the incident, and who asked not to be identified in published reports, said he didn’t see what happened inside the club. He said the paramedic told him, “You have blood on you. Don’t come near me.” And he corroborated McGinnis’ version of what happened with the paramedic.
“Zachery’s account was accurate from everything I saw,” the man said.
Ron Adams, owner of BJ’s called Dallas Voice and said the bar does not have McGinnis’ credit card. He said he double checked and there were no open bar tabs that evening.
He also said that if there was a fight in the club and someone was in danger, “we would not push them out on the street.”
“I want everyone to feel safe when they go to BJ’s and have a good time,” Adams said, who said he had heard accounts of the incident but was not at the club that evening.
