Subject: Paul Beane incident at amphitheater as reported by an eyewitness

Last night at the amphitheater there was a very ugly incident with Councilman Paul Beane.  His granddaughter is in the production of Guys and Dolls.  This incident was witnessed by (names of four people involved in the production), John Gomez our police officer as well as a host of others.  Unfortunately his words were also heard by little people.

Paul is a morning radio host.  There is a very strong possibility he may discuss this on his show. 

Before going into specifics I will state that Officer Gomez has sided with us.  He stated that Lubbock Moonlight Musicals did absolutely nothing wrong.  And that if anyone had been in any danger from the weather he knew the director would stop the show (which he did) and he also said he would have informed us of the danger and stopped the show as well.  If it had been a threat at the time he would have stopped it earlier but felt very safe letting it continue.

I am going to include the offensive language so you get the gist of what happened.  I'm sorry if it offends you but you need to know all of it.  So, my apologies for his language........

Lubbock City Councilman Paul Beane was asked more than once to leave the Wells Fargo Amphitheater tonight (07-18) because of his repeated screaming of such words as "fuck, shit and god-damn" in front of Moonlight Musicals officials, some cast members and customers.

Police officer John Gomez was present at the play, in uniform.  He also had been keeping tabs on the storm. 

At a point that the storm was about 20 minutes away, Mr. Gerald Dolter quickly stopped the play and announced to the crowd over the PA system that the show had to be canceled.

Theater participants know what to do. Those who were acting on stage at the time immediately exited the stage, and went to the covered dressing rooms.

Many of us with Moonlight Musicals began striking the set.  Some of the older ones in the production came out to help as they knew we could get it done faster. 

Beane’s granddaughter was NOT one of the ones who came out to help strike.  When the storm blew in so quickly, and you could see it quickly, Gerald quickly told everyone to leave things as they were and go home immediately.  Which we all started to do.

I am uncertain how soon it happened after Gerald Dolter's announcement to stop the production, but Paul Beane approached Mr. Dolter and began yelling that Gerald Dolter was "god-damn irresponsible." 

Lightning was visible some miles to the south ---  Officer John Gomez had been keeping track of the storm's approach as well as the stage manager and others. 

The profanities by Paul Beane continued for several minutes ---- and this was in hearing distance of other customers who were in the process of packing up or departing.

Officer Gomez reportedly told Beane at one point, "Sir, you need to settle down."

When he wouldn't stop yelling a woman approached Paul Beane and said, "Sir, I can assure you that Gerald Dolter is a very responsible director.  I have a son who is in this show, and I trust Mr. Dolter to keep him safe."

Beane immediately responded with, "I don't give a fuck about your son."

Which was witnessed by Officer Gomez and others. 

I went to introduce myself to Paul Beane with "Sir, my name is xxxxxxxxxx." to try and calm things down - and he replied:

Beane: "I fucking know who you are."

Mr. Dolter, and others were standing nearby when he kept up the profanity and screaming how fucking irresponsible we all were and how stupid we all were.  Mr. Dolter turned and walked with the policeman over to the side of the stage.

I then asked Mr. Beane to leave the premises as he was causing quite a disturbance.  Mr. Beane's response to me was:

Beane: "Make me."

Me: "We rent this property sir and I am asking you to please leave the premises at this time.

Beane: "Try and make me. I bought a god-damn ticket, so you can't make me do a god-damn thing."

Me: "That is not true Mr. Beane.  You had requested a comp ticket and received it so no, you did not purchase a ticket for this show.

Beane then said he was not leaving without his granddaughter, who is in the show.  I then went to retrieve his granddaughter from the dressing room 

Beane and his granddaughter then left, with Beane still saying, "This is a bunch of shit" and using assorted profanities as he exited the downstairs gate.

Police Officer Gomez told Mr. Dolter after the incident: "I represent the police force and the city when I'm working out here.  And if there had been any danger to these kids whatsoever, I would have been the one to stop the show if you had not."

That's about it --- except that the storm still had not arrived at the amphitheater, and not everyone had exited, when Beane exploded and turned into a potty-mouth.

I had never witnessed anything so appalling in my life.  Especially from someone supposedly representing this city.

When I got home last night I got a message from his granddaughter apologizing for her grandfather's behavior.  That little girl didn't do a thing wrong and shouldn't be apologizing for him but I know she was embarrassed to death.  She even knew he was wrong.

I'm sure Gerald can add a lot more to this as I'm still a little stunned by his behavior.  Just wanted you to know in case you start hearing it on the radio or from others who were present.

---

In response to the above local radio host Robert Pratt issued the following.

Accusations against councilman Paul Beane & what a police officer says actually happened
29 July 2009, ©Pratt on Texas

I’m sometimes called mean and irresponsible by some of the self-appointed elites in Lubbock. Why, because I dare comment upon what they say, and do, publicly with our tax money. How dare Pratt comment upon, and worse disagree with, any pronouncement of certain people who believe themselves to be better, or more deserving of respect, than the rest of us.
Yes my friends, I get harassing lawyer letters simply for pointing out the ignorance or illogic of some local buffoons (and if they want to waste their time and money in this way fine.) But, often it is these same people, who object to my offering opinion, who engage in regular back-stabbing and character assassination on a regular basis - without the honesty and courage of attaching their names to their actions and opinions. They are cowards.
And this brings us to the unsigned email, now posted on blog after blog as if it were fact, which was a vicious attack upon the personal character of city councilman Paul R. Beane.
I understand that envy and hate is a driving force in many a poor sap’s life, and may lead them to choose to believe every rumor spread. Their pathetically empty lives may even lead them to pass unfounded, and unchecked, rumors along by email and by posting, without a truly identifying name, on various online forums and blogs. All of that I understand and generally ignore.
However, when a local television news anchor and an employee of a public institution use the airwaves to pass such rumor along, not in a speculative manner but as if it had a basis in fact, it becomes time for those of us who do not teach journalism courses at universities, to address this issue.
In an email sent around Lubbock, unsigned I add, it was alleged that councilman Paul Beane engaged in behavior that would certainly be deemed out of line and inappropriate as described by the person, or persons, making the allegations.
I will not engage in repeating what was said to have happened other than to tell you that it was described, as fact by the rumor monger, that Paul Beane, was uncontrolled and shouting obscenities at otherwise helpless and women, who just happened to be mere bystanders at a performance at the taxpayer built amphitheater in Mackenzie Park. An entire situation was described in which Mr. Beane was a renegade, out of control, person verbally assaulting anyone within sight and fully engaging in what could be termed a criminal disturbance of the peace.
Unlike others, before mentioning the matter or posting anything at PrattonTexas.com, I sought to obtain testimony of what transpired at the Moonlight Musical performance from other witnesses - persons who actually had names. Even then, I told involved parties that I would not cover the issue until I had statements in writing as up until then it was still just rumor.
I now read to you the official report filed by a Lubbock police officer who was present and witnessed the entire incident.
For those who have not read the defaming email and postings, along with stupid online, generally anonymous comments from those who always think themselves to be in the know, you will not be able to grasp just how great the disparity is between what was claimed to happen versus what the police officer said happened.
From the police report:
“An incident was observed between Paul Beane, moonlight musicals producer Gerald Dolter, and musicals manager Jill Kerns.
“Mr. Beane has a granddaughter in the production and was concerned about an approaching storm with visible lightening in the area and his granddaughter remaining on the stage during this approaching storm.
“Mr. Dolter had stopped the show before the intermission at about 9pm. Some of the cast and crew remained on the stage to clear the stage of equipment that could be damaged due to the storm. I observed Beane approach Dolter and express his concern about his granddaughter’s safety and then he walked away to the south side of the stage, waiting for his granddaughter.
“Mr. Dolter then made a decision to leave any equipment on stage and ordered the crew to get off the stage at that time. Dolter then approached Mr. Beane and apologized. Beane told Dolter his actions were irresponsible and again walked away from Dolter. Jill Kerns, from the top of the stage told Beane that she wanted him to leave the area.
Now let’s take a quick break from the report as written. What had happened was that Mr. Beane came to the amphitheater to pick up his granddaughter, the show already having been stopped at the time he arrived. Beane observed that cast members were still on stage handling the very equipment that would be most likely to attract lightening had such hit. Beane points this out to Dolter and walks away.
Mr. Dolter essentially agrees with Beane’s point and calls all hands to leave the stage. Dolter then approaches Beane and apologizes for, I would assume, putting the crew at risk. Beane, being understandably agitated, but otherwise acceptable in his demeanor, says to Dolter that Dolter had been irresponsible having them onstage. This is opinion and any free American is free to express such. Beane did not linger, he did not get in the face of Mr. Dolter and attempt to escalate the situation, the report says he walked away.
At this point, Jill Kerns, who had not been involved in the situation between Mr. Dolter and Mr. Beane, from a point away and above on the stage, inserted herself into the situation. And, in what must have been a bit of a raised voice in order to be heard, my opinion only, told councilman Beane to leave the area.
Back to the report:
“Mr. Beane replied “shut up, I’m not going anywhere without my granddaughter.” Another unknown female, who was standing next to Jill Kerns, also asked Beane to leave
and again he told her to “shut up”. I [the police officer speaking] told all involved to calm down at that point and instructed Mr. Dolter to get Mr. Beane’s granddaughter who was backstage. Immediately, Beane’s granddaughter came down the stairs of the stage and walked out with Mr. Beane through the south gate.”
Again leaving the report, we see that previously uninvolved people had interjected themselves into a situation which was already being handled satisfactory. These two women took it upon themselves to order someone off the premises who was not doing anything other than waiting for a cast member. Mr. Beane, and rightfully in my book, told them to shut-up.
What was alleged by the writer of the email sent out all over town was very different than what was observed by the police officer. That person’s unsigned account went into detail about filthy and abusive language being used by Beane toward the women as if they were innocent bystanders who were just trying to relieve Beane’s tension over the risk to his granddaughter.
Now the last part of the official report filed by the police officer:
“On this date, I received an e-mail from Detective Calderon. The e-mail was forwarded from an unknown person to Detective Calderon. The e-mail was not signed but referred to this incident. The letter alleges that Paul Beane used profanity during this incident. Mr. Beane did not use profanity during this incident. [That line is in bold type in the police report.] I [again the officer speaking] was within 15 feet of Beane and Dolter during this entire incident. I did not observe any [again appearing in bold] criminal violations during this incident that required police intervention.”
And there you have it. To those who have read the original email describing the incident, you will learn that it appears to be a gross misrepresentation of what happened in almost each and every written line.
What we have seems to be a case of wanting to take a situation, in which someone interjected themselves and was then offended at being told to shut up, or stay out of it, being trumped up into a personal attack upon Mr. Beane. No doubt such effort was at least partly motivated by political motives, in my opinion.
Why other members of local media have said what they have said is not my place to speculate upon. But, let this be a lesson to all of those who regularly believe the often baseless accusations often posted online or sent around in emails: Much of the garbage you believe, because you want to believe it is true, is often just that, garbage.
Robert Pratt
Pratt on Texas
www.prattontexas.com