MIAMI – A 59-year-old man who was accused of turning a fire extinguisher into a weapon outside of a Miami nightclub appeared in Miami-Dade County court on Wednesday.
Police officers accused Edward Forchion of being the attacker. According to Jason Chantrelle, who works for Forchion, he was defending himself from an attacker and he did not flee the scene as alleged.
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Forchion’s son owns the club, Joint of Miami, and the man Forchion injured with the fire extinguisher was trespassing after he was fired for vandalism, according to Chantrelle.
“The attacker knew he was not allowed to be on premises and came to the location with two accomplices,” Chantrelle wrote in an e-mail.
Police officers detained Forchion at North Miami Court and Northwest 20 Street for questioning, and arrested him on Tuesday.
“It appears the police simply took the word of the alleged victim without doing their due diligence,” Attorney Michael Mirer, who is defending Forcion, wrote in an e-mail adding that there is a video of the incident.
Miami-Dade County correctional officers booked Forchion shortly before 10 p.m., on Tuesday, at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center for charges related to the alleged attack on Feb. 12.
Police officers who responded after midnight to the Joint of Miami, a club at 2010 NW Miami Court, reported the victim suffered “a deep” cut on his scalp and heavy bleeding.
Police officers also reported there was dry blood all over the victim’s face and shoes and on the middle of the street near the parked cars, according to the police arrest report.
Forchion first sprayed the victim with the fire extinguisher, the victim ran to get in his car before Forchion hit him in the head with it twice, according to the arrest report.
After Jackson Memorial Hospital released the victim, he met with police officers on Feb. 18 and reported that he had known Forchion for about eight years.
Forchion was facing charges of attempted murder, battery, and burglary with assault or battery while armed.