A security guard working a rowdy World Cup watch party at a popular North County San Diego restaurant and bar allegedly fired a taser directly into a shirtless young man’s face from inches away, and was promptly arrested after the sickening scene was caught on video.
The disturbing footage, which exploded across social media Thursday, shows the confrontation outside Park 101 in Carlsbad Village around 8:26 p.m. Wednesday during a crowded Mexico vs. Czechia soccer match.
In the clip, a shirtless patron stands near the entrance as a uniformed security guard suddenly raises what appears to be a conducted energy weapon and discharges it point-blank into the man’s face. The victim immediately collapses to the ground, writhing in pain as other security personnel stand by.
Carlsbad Police identified the guard as 42-year-old David Marquez of San Marcos. He was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and assault with a stun gun. The case remains under active investigation (Case No. 26-03269).
The shirtless victim was evaluated on scene by Carlsbad Fire Department personnel and transported to a local hospital for treatment. His identity and current condition have not been released.
Park 101 co-owner Peter Cich called the video “deeply disturbing” and said it “does not reflect Park 101 or any of our establishments.”
“The safety of our guests has always been our highest priority. Park 101 is, first and foremost, a family restaurant, and we rarely utilize security personnel of this kind,” Cich said in a statement.
“Due to the increased crowds associated with the World Cup matches, we retained additional event security through a third-party company… The individual involved is no longer working at our property, and we are terminating our relationship with that security vendor.”
Carlsbad Police Public Information Officer Denise Ramirez confirmed officers were flagged down for an altercation involving a security guard and a patron.“
The investigation determined that during the incident, a security guard allegedly deployed a stun gun during the altercation,” Ramirez said. “The adult male was evaluated by the Carlsbad Fire Department and transported to a local hospital for treatment.”
The venue said it is fully cooperating with police and conducting its own internal review of how event security is selected, vetted, and trained.
Online, the video sparked immediate outrage, with viewers blasting the close-range facial deployment as excessive and questioning whether it followed any standard security protocols.
A second video obtained by local reporters reportedly shows the same guard involved in an earlier confrontation that evening, striking another man while escorting him from the entrance.
Park 101, a sprawling multi-level restaurant and bar in the heart of Carlsbad Village known for its family-friendly vibe and big events, drew thousands for the soccer watch party.
The investigation is ongoing. No further details on charges or the victim’s condition have been released.
