Last Friday night, a group of cops beat up Guamas restaurant owner Rubens Mesa, smashing his head into a light pole and repeatedly kicking and hitting him. An eyewitness who is a security Guard, Regina Baker said, “I’ve never seen someone get beat like that, ever. He just didn’t deserve that.” Sgt. Dwayne Prejean and officer Michael Boutte were reportedly following recent department directions to enforce an old state law for “obstructing public passages” that forbids some downtown bars and restaurants from serving patrons at tables on the sidewalk outside their building. After Guamas’ management resisted moving its tables inside, one customer, Tyler Guilbeau, made a remark that the police had nothing better to do than harass businesses about their al fresco tables. Guilbeau was arrested for disturbing the peace. After the owner of the restaraunt's wife complained about the arrest the police arrested her also. At this point, owner Rubens Mesa turned and questioned the police. A witness said, “Mr. Mesa’s standing right there, and he turns around and says, ‘What’s going on?’” He’s standing there and then four cops rush him, and they throw him up against the lamppost right there, and they’re holding him.” One of the officers pushed Mesa by his chin and slammed the back of his head against the tall green lamppost on the corner of Jefferson and Vine streets and then forced him to the ground. At this point, backup police officers arrived. At least five police officers converged on Mesa, a 35-year-old Cuban immigrant of medium build. Baker says the police pinned Mesa face down on the ground and began beating him while his wife, in handcuffs and on her knees, looked on screaming, “You see this! You see this!” [more]