Fan Alleges Abuse by Dodger Security

ST. LOUIS —  Despite a previous denial by the Dodgers, the resignation of club security chief Jim Italiano may have been linked to an alleged beating in the Dodger Stadium parking lot of a black man whom Dodger security believed was a scalper.

According to a source familiar with the incident, the man was visiting Los Angeles in late July and had tickets to a game during the first home stand after the All-Star break. He was confronted in the parking lot by security guards who allegedly beat him and yelled pejorative racial remarks at him. Italiano was allegedly at the scene of the incident.

“The kid was really in bad shape,” said a Dodger security guard who asked not to be identified. “The guards used the ‘N’ word and were flinging racial epithets at him.”

William Powers, the alleged victim’s attorney, has scheduled a news conference for later this week to discuss the incident and any possible legal action. Powers did not return phone calls Saturday.

Sam Fernandez, Dodger staff counsel, said Saturday that Powell had contacted the Dodgers regarding the incident.

“We have been contacted by William Powers regarding the alleged incident in the parking lot,” Fernandez said. “The information we have received from our security personnel is very different than the information that has been conveyed by Mr. Powers.

“Needless to say, we do not condone, and indeed abhor, the type of conduct that has been alleged by Mr. Powers. At this time, however, there is no basis for concluding that what Mr. Powers is alleging is in fact what happened.”

A source familiar with the incident said the man, who has yet to be identified, was treated at a hospital after he was taken to the Dodger nursing station at the stadium. The source said the man suffered multiple injuries.

Italiano, the Dodgers’ director of stadium operations the past two years, resigned under sketchy circumstances effective last Monday. He had cleaned out his office on Aug. 8 before beginning a previously scheduled vacation. Bob Graziano, Dodger vice president of finance, has said the incident and Italiano’s resignation were not related.

According to sources, when Dodger President Peter O’Malley was informed of the incident he was angry and took action with Italiano and several other guards who were involved.

A guard who works at the stadium said that the situation under Italiano had become more difficult during the past two years.

“Italiano hired . . . inexperienced football players from a (local) college and let them run amok and he did nothing to try to get it in check,” a source said.

Italiano did not return phone calls Saturday.