Video shows what happened during an altercation at an Atlantic City nightclub that resulted in allegations of assault and harassment against the mayor and a councilman.
Police were called to the Haven Nightclub at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday, after Mayor Frank Gilliam and Councilman Jeffree Fauntleroy allegedly had an altercation with three employees of the club inside the Golden Nugget.
"What do I look like assaulting anyone as the mayor?" Gilliam asked Sunday morning, denying the incident was any more than a "verbal disagreement."
Both men said they were not even aware the complaints were signed until shown an Atlantic City Police Department email obtained by BreakingAC that gave a brief synopsis of the allegations.
But after learning that video of a fight involving the two men outside the casino had been shown to media, Fauntleroy said, "the video shows what actually happened."
Complaints of assault and harassment were signed by two male employees and one female employee.
"Unfortunately, a lot of times when we go out to have just a good time and be socializing and enjoy ourselves, we are targeted and we are provoked into situations."
Atlantic City Councilman Jeffree Fauntleroy
One witness told BreakingAC that one of the men was hospitalized after being struck by Fauntleroy. The alleged victim did not respond to requests for comment.
Fauntleroy did not directly respond when told the video shows him throwing a man to the ground.
"The video shows what actually happened," he said. "It is what it is."
The other male employee said he signed a complaint against Gilliam, but would not comment further saying, "The video speaks for itself."
Fauntleroy, however, indicated that there is more to the story.
He said he and Gilliam were actually leaving to avoid a blow up after an intial confrontation inside the club. It was not clear if there is video of that.
"They show us walking away and them following us," he said of the video from outside the casino.
"Unfortunately, a lot of times when we go out to have just a good time and be socializing and enjoy ourselves, we are targeted and we are provoked into situations," he said. "We're human."
The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office is now reviewing the matter, Atlantic County First Assistant Prosecutor Cary Shill said after the incident became public.
Gilliam and Fauntleroy had already left the area when police arrived. They were given "special complaint tickets," according to the police email.
When given a copy of the email, Gilliam said he wasn’t sure who the employees are “but I will address it with my legal counsel.”
"You can be told whatever," he said of allegations that he attacked at least one of the employees. "Let the legal process do its job."
Reports by another media source that the two were arrested were inaccurate, the men said in separate interviews.
"Please consider your news sources because fake news is very real," Gilliam said.
"The matter is currently being reviewed by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office," First Assistant Prosecutor Shill said in a statement. "We have no further comment at this time.”
