Cali Beach Club bouncer Siaosi Sauaga Carlos Etuale pleads guilty to assaulting evicted patron

A beach club bouncer’s involvement in a violent confrontation with patrons has been called “excessive in the circumstances”, a court has heard. SEE FOOTAGE FROM THE MELEE.

A former Cali Beach Club security guard was fired and hauled before the courts after punching a patron in the face outside the popular venue.

Siaosi Sauaga Carlos Etuale went outside to Surfers Paradise Blvd after 10pm on October 7, 2022, amid reports a man had been assaulted during a confrontation with two men who had just been evicted from the rooftop bar.

Siaosi Sauaga Carlos Etuale. Picture: Jessica Paul

Police prosecutor Matthew Thompson told Southport Magistrates Court that a scuffle broke out as Etuale grabbed one of the men and the other tried to intervene.

Sen Const. Thompson said Etuale then punched the man in the face and his victim swung back at him, breaking away before the security guard advanced again and threw another three punches in his and his friend’s direction. The fight was soon broken up by another bouncer.

Emergency services including half a dozen police and ambulance paramedics at the scene of a fight between Cali Beach Club security and two patrons about 11pm on Friday night

The court was told the second security guard later told police he was responding to an urgent call for help from Etuale, who claimed he had been attacked first and threatened by the pair.

Defence lawyer India Brady said Etuale was initially tasked with detaining the men – who had both since been charged – until police arrived.

“My client accepts that his actions were not only outside the realm of his work as a security guard, but they were also excessive in the circumstances,” Ms Brady said.

“It was something that occurred in the heat of the moment and it was all over extremely quickly.”

Emergency services at the scene.

Ms Brady told the court the 22-year-old had since lost the Cali Beach job but hoped to return to the security field, finding employment as a support worker in the meantime to help financially support his family.

Magistrate Kerry Magee said Etuale’s conduct was “completely inappropriate” but accepted he was young with no criminal history.

“You need to understand that regardless of the background, when you physically assault someone, there is always the potential for it to go very seriously wrong,” Ms Magee said.

“You’re not small in stature – your punch could very easily cause very serious injuries, and you’re very lucky it didn’t.”

Etuale pleaded guilty to one count each of common assault and failing to appear.

He was fined $800 and no conviction was recorded.