Authorities in Port Huron are investigating the circumstances of the death of a 26-year-old Michigan man after bouncers restrained him at a local bar.
The incident occurred on Saturday, November 4, 2023, outside Roche Bar in Port Huron, Michigan, where witnesses said Joshua Conan, 26, was attempting to break up an altercation; others said he was trying to stop women from being harassed. It was during this intervention that bouncers detained him.
Video footage from a bystander shows Conant being held down on the ground by the bouncers, while police presence is seen in the background with an officer instructing him to cease resisting. Witnesses have countered the claim that he was resisting, alleging he had stopped breathing at the time.
Despite efforts by police and Emergency Medical Services, who performed CPR, Conant was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Before the incident, witnesses told authorities that he was not engaged in a physical altercation. The investigation is focusing on what transpired during the incident and the sequence of events that led to his unresponsiveness.
On the night of the occurrence, police responded to a call about a large fight at the bar around 2 a.m. Upon arrival, officers found Conant unresponsive and pinned to the ground by bouncers.
David Hart, a friend of Conant, said that he was not involved in the fight and attempted to break it up when security staff encircled him. This statement is a critical element in the investigation as it may provide insight into his actions leading up to the engagement with the bouncers.
The Michigan State Police have taken over the investigation from local authorities. As of now, no cause of death has been determined, and no charges have been filed. The State Police will continue to piece together witness statements and video evidence to ascertain the events and determine the appropriate course of action.