DALLAS, Texas — The Dallas Police Department is looking for an unknown man who knocked a local bartender to the ground in a random, unprovoked attack downtown early Saturday.
Security video shows the disturbing moment unfolding at around 1:42 a.m. outside City Tavern on Elm St. The bartender, Adam Mercado, told WFAA he was going to the bar to get a drink with his girlfriend and say hi to friends there.
While saying goodnight on their outdoor patio, you see the unknown man walking by on the sidewalk, powering up a swing and then striking Mercado with a long stick.
Mercado was knocked to the ground.
The man then hits one of Mercado's friends, knocking him to the ground before fleeing on foot. Mercado told WFAA he noticed the man before entering the bar, saying he had a long tree branch in his hand--one end 'fashioned like a spear.'
"We decided to go to the bar, say hi to some friends, have a nightcap, and then walk home," Mercado said. "He looked suspicious, so I ushered my girlfriend inside pretty fast. We had our drink and then said goodbye to some folks outside. I let my guard down for about 10 seconds, and that's all it took--just a 'WHACK.' "
"The branch broke across the back of my head, and I fell to the ground," Mercado added. "You don't know what to do--you're confused, and all I could do was start screaming for help," Taylor Monnet, Mercado's girlfriend, said.
Mercado was taken to the hospital out of precaution--he's going to be ok, with no permanent damage, but is dealing with a concussion. He's also expecting a hefty hospital bill after some pricey scans.
Mercado is now raising money to help pay for those costs, especially since he can't work for a bit, feeling disoriented after the attack.
When it comes to finding the suspect, police only have the security video to work with. They say the attack was random and unprovoked.
Mercado asks folks to watch it to see if they recognize the person and to be on the lookout for them.
"I always have my guard up; make sure you keep your head on a swivel--because for 10 seconds, I let my guard down, and this happened."