Jacob Harver on the Bob Hagan Incident

I’m sitting here at the Lemon Grove getting some work done and wanted to take a second to post Jacob Harver’s letter about the Bob Hagan incident last week. There was some confusion in the two Vindicator articles about it and some misquoting (and, by the way, how is “Assault witness says Hagan was belligerent one” an appropriate title when the “assault witness” is the “mother of the accused“?). I’m sure there are multiple angles to a violent incident in a crowded restaurant/bar, but in the hopes it will help clear the air a bit, read on…

Concerning the Night of the 6th

On February 6th, coinciding with the Lemon Grove 6 month anniversary, Brandon Martin had a show entitled “Shock and Awe,” featuring dancers, musicians, actors, and poets. Since graduating from the the Theater Department at YSU, Brandon has been a great resource to Youngstown arts and culture. In 2009 he started the organization UN ACT devoted to exposing and educating children and adults to the wonders of the arts.

Monica Beasley Martin, Brandon’s mother, an AME pastor, and veteran of the Youngstown Playhouse, was emceeing the event.

Among the performers for the evening were EOS Whole Fitness and Dorian Thomas. EOS is a studio on Belmont Avenue that is a space for yoga and belly dance. Their belly dance is not of a lewd variety, but in the words of proprietor Jennifer Neal, “this particular form of dance is actually rooted in ancient spirituality, and it supports, strengthens, and connects people of all races, genders, sizes, ages, and religions.”

Dorian Thomas is a local artist, who performed in the play “Lucasville” in New York City and in many local shows with other Youngstown actors.  From talking to those who have worked with him, he seems to have no known incidents of antisocial behavior, previous to this evening.

Though the Lemon Grove has an elevated stage, its size is not conducive to dance pieces. All the dance performances took place on the dance floor in front of the stage. Dorian Thomas had already danced his piece, when EOS went on to perform at approximately 11:15pm. The cafe was filling up at this point, though still significantly within its 134 capacity, and more patrons clustered around to see EOS perform their dance. It is reported that the Thomas family was becoming more and more agitated with the fact that people were standing around the performance area and obstructing the view from their chairs. Had they asked me or anyone on the staff to, we would have accommodated any requests to make the show more visible to them, though they had no disabilities preventing them from standing like everyone else.

It is into this scene that Rep. Hagan, Mrs. Hagan, daughter Natalia, and friends entered the Lemon Grove. In joining into the cluster of people they too obstructed the view of the Thomas’ family table. Witnesses report Mrs. Thomas was becoming more angrily adamant about people to move. By the nature of the cluster of people and the music playing it is impossible to know an exact transcription of what words were said, but Rep. Hagan said something to the effect of that it is crowded and there is no way she will be able to see from her seat. The Thomas family believes that Rep. Hagan was being belligerent to them, though this is not corroborated by anyone else surrounding them. Dorian Thomas then got in Rep. Hagan’s face, and Rep. Hagan told him to back away. Then Dorian swung, landing a punch on Rep. Hagan’s chin sending him to the floor. Natalia Hagan, Rep. Hagan’s daughter got into the fray to protect her father, while Lemon Grove team member Nick Celio pulled Dorian back and began to escort him out the door of the Lemon Grove. Dorian’s father then forcefully pushed Natalia to the ground onto her father. Mrs. Thomas pulled put a taser and is reported to have fired it but did not hit anyone with it.

Ironically, as this was occurring I, the owner of the Lemon Grove, in understanding that it was beginning to be difficult for patrons to see, was behind the EOS dancers on stage setting up a camcorder and projector so that more people could witness the dance. I heard a commotion arise above the music and then saw Nick Celio escorting Dorian out the door. I jumped the half wall in between the door and stage to go outside with the two to see what was happening. Nick was yelling at him leave the premises and he started to walk down the street while his father came outside.

For this to happen to anyone is in excusable. It is all the more unfortunate for it to happen to Rep. Hagan, who has been such a staunch supporter of the Lemon Grove and other downtown businesses. Rep. Hagan’s position as an elected official played no role in this conflict. His daughter Natalia has been a wonderful employee at the Lemon Grove and continues to work when she is home from college.

An act of violence such as this is the antithesis of what the Lemon Grove represents. We are a cafe centered around the arts, whose mission is to provide a positive cultural and economic impact in downtown Youngstown. Though we serve alcohol, what we pride ourselves on is that it is not a “bar.” Rather it is a place where people can enjoy coffee, food, alcohol, art, and culture in an unparalleled atmosphere. So far we have lived up to this mission well and a random senseless act as this will not deter us from it.

Thank you,
Jacob Harver
president of The Lemon Grove
jacob@lemongrovecafe.com

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