Worst of the Worst

Will an unruly punk show end live music at the Jumping Turtle?

Sheriff’s deputy Sgt. Glenn Antonio said every patrol car assigned to San Marcos the night of Saturday, April 18, was called to the Jumping Turtle. In addition to those eight cars, “We called in [sheriff’s deputy] units from unincorporated areas as far away as Valley Center.” He says seven CHP units and the Sheriff’s Astrea helicopter were also on the scene.

“We got a call from someone inside who said that there was a near-riot and that the security couldn’t handle it.”

North County–based Wanted Dead headlined a show that night that also featured Tim Raldo and the Filthy Fucks, Buckface, and the Embalmers.

The Jumping Turtle hosts bands five to seven nights a week. Over the years, the restaurant/bar near Palomar College has hosted punk and hardcore national bands such as Otep, Static X, TSOL, Exodus, Telstar, Into Eternity, Green Jellÿ, M.O.D., and Flotsam and Jetsam.

Antonio says that once the deputies arrived, “The band started inciting the people to riot. The security or management unplugged the power and the band continued to play.” He said eventually the security and law-enforcement officers got almost everyone outside but those who remained inside were the most unruly.

Antonio says there were three arrested that night. “There should have been more arrests, but we were only able to get to the worst of the worst. One of our deputies was jumped.”

He said the most serious arrest was of a 17-year-old who was charged with being intoxicated, resisting arrest, and assaulting an officer with violent force. The other two, aged 18 and 28, were also charged with being intoxicated. Antonio says one of his men had to use a taser.

The Jumping Turtle is one of the few all-age music venues in San Diego County that has a full bar.

Antonio says his department recently contacted the City of San Marcos with specific requests about what should now happen with the Jumping Turtle’s entertainment license.

“The Jumping Turtle has been a drain on law enforcement resources for two to three years. That is an establishment that is legally permitted to operate as a restaurant. We have suggested that some type of action take place.… Things are in the works. We are not ready to comment on anything just yet.”

In San Marcos it is the city clerk’s office that handles entertainment permits.

City clerk Susie Vasquez says that she has received the sheriff department’s request but has yet to make an announcement on a decision. On April 29, she said she had yet to contact Jumping Turtle ownership and that she should issue a decision within a week.

Here’s what Brayden, 27, had to say about the night.

“At the time, I thought the cops were out of line, but later, after sobering up, I realized it was purely the show and the excitement of the night inciting the violence and chaos.… Once they were carried out by security, they fought back even harder.”