By Dan Kelly
Reading Eagle
June 15, 2011
A bouncer who critically injured a Blandon man in an assault at a Muhlenberg Township nightclub was arrested Tuesday and committed to Berks County Prison, authorities said.
Jobin J. Grandstrom, 36, of the 400 block of Grove Avenue, Cumru Township, was charged with simple assault and recklessly endangering another person in the May 1 attack on Jordan Seyler, 21.
Muhlenberg police filed the charges Friday in District Judge Dean R. Patton's office.
Patton issued a warrant for Grandstrom, who was arrested Tuesday by state Constables Tim Swartz and Lawrence LaFaver, at a Lebanon County car dealership where he works, authorities said.
Grandstrom was arraigned before Patton and committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $7,500 bail.
Muhlenberg police gave the following account:
Seyler was at Legends Sports Bar, 2545 N. Fifth St. Highway, when he became involved in a disturbance on an outdoor deck.
Grandstrom, who is employed by Legends as a bouncer, broke up the disturbance and ordered Seyler back into the bar with the rest of his party.
A while later another disturbance involving Seyler occurred on the deck.
Grandstrom approached Seyler and placed him in a headlock.
Grandstrom pushed Seyler toward a side door leading to the parking lot. He then pushed Seyler out the door with such force that Seyler's feet left the ground and he landed headfirst on a sidewalk two steps below the door.
Police were called to the bar for a report of an assault and found Seyler bleeding on the sidewalk.
Seyler was taken by ambulance to Reading Hospital, where he had emergency surgery for head injuries. After the surgery, Seyler remained in the hospital in serious condition for several days.
Grandstrom is still employed as a bouncer at Legends, according to court records.
No one at the club could be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, Seyler has filed a lawsuit in Berks County Court against Grandstrom, Legends and the club's parent companies to recover his medical and other expenses. The suit seeks more than $50,000.
"Because of the truly careless and outrageous actions of Legends bar and its employees, this young man will now have to live with devastating injuries for the rest of his life," said Joel J. Feller of the Philadelphia law firm handling Seyler's case.
Feller said Seyler spent 10 days in Reading Hospital and then 10 more days in the hospital's acute brain injury unit before he was discharged. He is now undergoing occupational and speech therapy on an outpatient basis, Feller said.
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