Andorra Security Guard Arrested for Assaulting Customer with Illegal Baton

Police in Andorra detained a 50-year-old security guard working at a nightclub in El Tarter late on Saturday night after he assaulted a customer with an illegal extendable baton during a dispute.

The incident began when the customer, a temporary resident out with a small group of friends, attempted to leave the venue carrying a bottle. The guard, employed by a local security firm, stopped him and demanded he leave the bottle behind, as it was not permitted outside the pub. The exchange escalated into an argument, prompting the guard to pull an extendable baton from his pocket—purchased privately and not part of his professional equipment—and strike the customer repeatedly.

Officers arrived shortly before midnight and arrested the guard, initially charging him with a crime against physical integrity for the injuries inflicted. A further investigation revealed the baton was carried illegally, adding a charge of a crime against collective security. Unlike authorised professional tools used proportionately, private batons are prohibited.

The customer sustained multiple injuries consistent with baton strikes, including blows to various body parts exceeding standard security protocols. He also suffered a bleeding facial wound from a punch. None of the injuries were life-threatening, and the victim made his own way to hospital for treatment and a medical report to support a potential complaint, though sources could not confirm if one has been filed. The guard showed no injuries, and there was no indication the customer or his friends had assaulted him.

The man was placed at the disposal of the courts on Sunday afternoon and released by evening. Sources suggest the investigation will continue to clarify details, including whether the guard overreacted due to feeling threatened by the group.