A disturbing video has surfaced showing a security guard at a popular North County San Diego bar and restaurant firing a Taser directly into the face of a shirtless patron at point-blank range during an altercation. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, June 24, 2026, outside a busy rooftop sports bar in Carlsbad Village, during a packed watch party for a soccer match. The footage shows a young man standing near the entrance when a uniformed security guard suddenly raises what appears to be a conducted electrical weapon and discharges it from just inches away straight into the man’s face. The victim immediately drops to the ground in obvious pain as bystanders rush in to assist him.
The security guard, identified as 42-year-old David Marquez of San Marcos, was arrested and booked into Vista County Jail on two felony counts: assault with a deadly weapon and assault with a stun gun. Carlsbad police officers were flagged down by witnesses and reviewed the video of the incident before making the arrest. The victim was evaluated at the scene by Carlsbad Fire Department personnel and transported to a local hospital for treatment, although his identity and current medical condition have not been publicly released.
The restaurant where the incident occurred has terminated Marquez and ended its contract with the security vendor. The co-owner of the restaurant released a statement expressing deep concern over the incident and emphasizing the importance of guest safety. The statement explained that the restaurant had retained additional event security through a third-party company to help manage the increased crowds associated with the soccer match, but what occurred was the opposite of why those personnel were brought in.
The restaurant is cooperating fully with the Carlsbad Police Department and conducting its own internal review of how event security is selected, vetted, staffed, and trained. The focus is currently on the wellbeing of guests, and the restaurant is committed to learning from this incident and taking necessary steps to ensure something like this does not happen again. The cause of the altercation that led to the incident is still unclear at this time.
