Berkeley hospitality ambassador homeless man
Berkeley hospitality ambassador homeless man, A man has been fired from his job as a 'hospitality ambassador' in California after video surfaced that appeared to show him beating up a homeless man.
A male and female employee, dressed in neon shirts and baseball hats, began arguing with the two homeless men before the worker hit the man across the face behind a CVS store in Berkeley on March 20.
The ambassador continued to attack while the homeless man was curled in a ball on the ground. Then, as the two men packed up their belongings to leave, he pinned the other against the wall by the throat.
Berkeley's ambassador program is coordinated through the Downtown Berkeley Association, a non-profit group.
Downtown Berkeley Association CEO John Caner apologized for the incident and said the man was fired on Thursday after a video of the beating was posted online.
He said a second 'hospitality ambassador' who witnessed the beating and did nothing to stop it has been suspended.
The names of both ambassadors have not been released.
Mr Caner told Berkeleyside.com: 'It’s clearly totally unacceptable. We apologize to (the victim) and to the community.
'This is clearly so out of the realm of acceptable behavior and totally contrary to all of the training provided to ambassadors.'
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the homeless man who was assaulted was later arrested by police on suspicion of assault and making criminal threats based on a report by the ambassadors.
The ambassadors' purpose is to create a more welcoming environment for residents and visitors.
A male and female employee, dressed in neon shirts and baseball hats, began arguing with the two homeless men before the worker hit the man across the face behind a CVS store in Berkeley on March 20.
The ambassador continued to attack while the homeless man was curled in a ball on the ground. Then, as the two men packed up their belongings to leave, he pinned the other against the wall by the throat.
Berkeley's ambassador program is coordinated through the Downtown Berkeley Association, a non-profit group.
Downtown Berkeley Association CEO John Caner apologized for the incident and said the man was fired on Thursday after a video of the beating was posted online.
He said a second 'hospitality ambassador' who witnessed the beating and did nothing to stop it has been suspended.
The names of both ambassadors have not been released.
Mr Caner told Berkeleyside.com: 'It’s clearly totally unacceptable. We apologize to (the victim) and to the community.
'This is clearly so out of the realm of acceptable behavior and totally contrary to all of the training provided to ambassadors.'
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the homeless man who was assaulted was later arrested by police on suspicion of assault and making criminal threats based on a report by the ambassadors.
The ambassadors' purpose is to create a more welcoming environment for residents and visitors.