Judge blocks viewing of bar assault video

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A judge has temporarily disallowed viewing of a surveillance video that purportedly shows the alleged assault of a North Dakota man on Sept. 30 at Thirsty’s Bar in Mitchell.

Magistrate Judge Patrick W. Kiner issued a protective order Tuesday stating the surveillance DVD — filed in a public court file and purporting to show the alleged assault of Clint Dreyer, 36, by Thirsty’s bar manager Thomas Somerville, 38 — is not allowed to be viewed by “any person, media representative, agency, attorney or otherwise” until the DVD is admitted into evidence or the case is concluded.

The Daily Republic had sought access to the surveillance video, which was found in the case’s public court file, but was denied the request on March 2.

Kiner’s order states the court file on the case is to remain public record but the DVD is not allowed to be removed from the file for any purpose unless otherwise ordered by the court.

The surveillance video is the subject of a pending motion by Somerville’s attorney, Cynthia J. Ahrendt, of Sioux Falls, who is seeking to have it suppressed as evidence for an upcoming jury trial, scheduled for April, on the assault charge against Somerville.

Tags: news, updates, courts, thirstys, video, assault, crime