Security guard testifies in Stow-Dodgers civil trial

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Testimony Monday in the Bryan Stow civil trial against the L.A. Dodgers organization focused on security at Dodger Stadium on opening day 2011, when the Giants fan was severely beaten in the parking lot.

A security guard took the witness stand Monday. He said he was not subpoenaed; he volunteered to testify on moral grounds after he saw what happened to Stow. He testified about intense fan rivalry erupting in combat on that day.

Security guard Jerome Heavens told the jury he was in the middle of it: Foul language, food-throwing and fistfights. So many, he testified, that he suffered bruised knees, a bloody arm trying to break them up and finally quit his job.

Jerome Heavens told the jury: "It was crazy. It was crazy from what I saw, everything was out of order, I was calling my lead supervisor for help. I believed I wasn't safe."

"It doesn't take a big-time expert to say we don't have enough security when you had all these fights breaking out, people yelling obscenities and throwing stuff," said Stow attorney Tom Girardi.

The suit claims that Giants fan Bryan Stow would not have been attacked and permanently brain-damaged if there had more security to deter the two attackers, Marvin Norwood and Louie Sanchez.

The Dodger position is that LAPD and Dodgers security was plentiful, and that Heavens, a new-hire, was out of the loop regarding the deployment numbers; that records show he had backup.

Heavens testified that he didn't see them in his area.

Heavens stated that earlier that day in a pre-game briefing, a coordinating supervisor announced that they had only half the needed security personnel, and that instead of intervening, the guards should notify a supervisor or uniformed LAPD officer.

Heavens said that he got involved in some cases to defend himself.

"The test of security is not how many people you have, the test of security is make sure people don't get hurt," said Girardi.

Medical experts testified Monday that Stow will need residential-care costing $1,500 per day, not including therapies and doctor bills.

The Stow attorneys say they expect four more days of presenting their case. One of their final witnesses will be former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who owned the team at the time of the 2011 assault. He could testify on Friday.