Navy commander accused of attacking DC lounge security guard

WASHINGTON - A bouncer at a D.C. nightclub is accusing an unruly patron of attacking him this past weekend which required a trip to the hospital. Police arrested a U.S. Navy commander for the alleged assault, but it appears he is off the hook.

The police report said the assault happened at the Eighteenth Street Lounge in Northwest D.C. during a pre-Independence Day bar crawl. Navy commander Nevon Burney is accused of attacking bouncer Chris Smith early Saturday morning.

According to arrest documents, Burney struck Smith in his left eye with a glass beer bottle, grabbed him by the throat and choked him until he was almost unconscious. Burney was arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon.

But a day later, The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said there are no charges against Burney. The office said in a statement, "We don't comment on charging decisions and we won't comment on this particular matter."

FOX 5 has learned the attack happened inside the lounge and was likely caught on camera. There were also at least three people who saw the beatdown. The police report said brass knuckles, a blunt object and personal weapons, including hands and feet, were used to attack the bouncer.

The responding officers were wearing body cameras, which mean the attack's aftermath was captured on video.

The injured bouncer's mother said her son spent a day in the emergency room recovering from the attack. He has been released from the hospital, but is still nursing a cut and swollen knot to his left eye.