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Mountain View police used their Taser guns on two young women early Saturday morning on Castro Street after officers were unable to break up a fight between them.

Police received a call at around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 18 that a fight had broken out at the Monte Carlo Club on Castro Street, according to spokesperson Liz Wylie. She said three male officers responded and were able to calm down an “unruly” crowd that had gathered outside the club.

They then noticed that a group of men had formed a circle around two women fighting on the corner of Castro and Villa streets. However, “When they tried to get into the ring, they were hindered by the men,” Wylie said.

The officers eventually did reach the fighters, but had a hard time breaking up the fight as the two women had grips on each others’ hair, Wylie said. In order to the stop the fight, the officers used their Taser guns on the two women, identified as Erika Santana, 22, and Karla Jacob, 21, both from Oakland.

“Officers can get hurt from women too,” Wylie said. “We train officers in the academy to not underestimate women. We don’t play favorites.”

Per Police Department policy, after being hit with the Tasers, the two suspects were taken to the hospital to be evaluated. Both were cleared at El Camino Hospital, though they had suffered minor injuries and abrasions from the fight. Both have been charged with disturbing the peace and obstructing a police officer.

Wylie said police do not know why the fight started, and that they’ve encountered “zero people who were willing to be witnesses.”

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1 Comment

  1. I’m curious, why wouldn’t the “circle of men” let the police through (or put another way, why were the police unable to get through the circle of men)? Did the men actually *want* the fight to continue? Why wouldn’t they try to stop the women? I suppose we should assume the same things that prevented the three male police officers from stopping the fight immediately also prevented the circle of male onlookers? How often do officers need to use Tasers on men? Well-written story, but would like to see more details in the future.

  3. That’s funny – why wouldn’t they (the circle of men) try to stop the women? Because men love to see women fighting, that’s why! Those “women” (term used loosely) were probably dressed in short skirts and skin tight tops and were rolling around on the ground, all over each other. Men love that stuff!

  4. Old woman LG, you’ve obviously not seen too many bar/street fights so I’ll ensure you, there was nothing “unique to women” about the details.
    Yes, crowds gather at fights and egg them on, esp. if they’re strangers.
    This happens w/ men and women in the crowd.
    Yes, police use their Tasers on men, likely far more often than woman.
    Stand down Sister…nothing to see here.

  5. Time to close the Monte Carlo! It has been a problem for years and just brings a mixed crowd into town. When the club closes there is a lot of urination in the surrounding streets and parking lots.

    Also,these ladies came from Oakland to go to the Monte Carlo. Why?

    Shut down the Monte Carlo and convert it into an art house movie theater. Mountain View does not need this.

  6. Why is this bar still open – it causes nothing but problems. It brings in such a crowd of people who really bring down the vibe in downtown MV. Just trying to walk down Castro near this club is a bit daunting. The clothes and attitudes are both terrible.
    I sure wish it was an old movie theater again –

  8. I hope the police start to monitor the parking lots after Monte Carlo lets out. Those people make a lot of noise that disrupts surrounding homes and neighborhoods.

  9. I like the idea of an art house theater! Maybe these gawking wastoids could actually discover that there are more interesting and entertaining things to look at than a couple of drunk gals pulling a ‘Jerry Springer’ on the streets of our fine city.

  10. The Monte Carlo SUCKS. No excuses, it is a dive that does not deserve to continue its ghetto business in Mt. View. The vibe is all wrong, just walking into the place in the light of day made me sick.
    GO AWAY!!

  13. Joe, you really made me laugh out loud.

    So two random girls from Oakland get into a fight at the Monte Carlo? The Monte Carlo sucks and anyone with any sense can see that. Still, it’s not like the place should be shut down just because of this. Stuff happens.

  14. No, the Monte Carlo should not be shut down just because of this one incident. It should be shut down because of its ongoing history of being a blight on our downtown community and a drain on police resources that could be better used patrolling other parts of the city.

    This place has had a long history of drunken fights, alcohol violations, public urination, and other offenses of disorderly conduct, probably far more than any other club on Castro Street.

    It’s clear that the club owners cannot handle their patrons and don’t care what happens to the larger community once those patrons leave their doors. Enough is enough!

  15. I agree with the common sentiment that this place should be shut down. Have you ever passed that place on a weekend about 9pm? Patrons usurp the entire street.

  16. I absolutely agree with the other comments that the Monte Carlo has always been a low class establishment that brings troublemakers into downtown Mountain View. It is a total dive. We have a downtown Association, what are they doing about this? I don’t know how the owners even got a license, the City goes to great lengths to dictate signage on a new business or to drag out the permit process on a legitimate business, but when it comes to something that is a real problem they do nothing. The Monte Carlo has got to go, an Indie/Art house movie theater with a nice cafe on the street level is a great idea.

  18. We don’t venture into that block on weekend nights because of this club. Its been a long time since this club patrons are casuing trouble from missing teen, to racial abuse, to random fights, with club goers stabbing at after parties etc.

    I really don’t understand why this place is still open in a semi-residential neighborhood.

    Hopefully Mountain Voice can pass all these comments to city council.

  20. Anyone you believes the Monte Carlo should be shuttered needs to write a letter to the editor AND CC every council member. We need to send a message that this type of ‘business’ does not belong in downtown Mtn View. The city should scrutinize any business that requires bouncers to control their ‘clientele’. I don’t want to turn Mtn View into boring Los Altos, but maybe a nice jazz club, piano bar etc, would be a nice alternative. With Shoreline Amphitheater and Monte Carlo MV is becoming a D List destination.

  21. Katy said, “With Shoreline Amphitheater and Monte Carlo MV is becoming a D List destination.”

    I strongly disagree with your assertion. This is how Mountain View will turn into Palo Alto, large overreactions by residents to small time issues. Shut this down, next it’s shut Molly’s down and Mervyn’s too. Anything you don’t agree with, just ban it. Also, by doing so we can learn to be more judgemental.

  22. Bruno, I am not sure about Amphitheater but Monte Carlo need to be shutdown. Every month there at least a couple of incidents. We don’t need to turn into Palo Alto but at the same time we don’t need turn into a city where people are afraid to walk in downtown after 9 PM.

    http://www.mv-voice.com/news/show_story.php?id=835

    http://www.mv-voice.com/story.php?story_id=4836

    95% of the crime in downtown MV is related to this club. Check out previous articles from the Voice.

  23. I think they should shut it down and the other night clubs too, all u see is a bunch of slutes out there looking for men and starting problems. when u go for a walk at night thats all u see is a bunch of drunkies. it was a nice downtown before, but it has all changed since they have to have all these night clubs here. shut them all down

  26. While I read all the comments posted for this article I am disgusted with the people who wrote them. Ignorant bunch is all I see. Clubs are clubs doesn’t matter what kind of music they play, clothes they wear, and people that attend this place. How can you sit there and criticize one club and not open yourself to the obvious. Be honest most of you are RACIST yes racist, what makes the other clubs better??? that they don’t have MEXICANS (Latinos), The clothes are more American standard. oh Please, I’m so sadden by this, even tho I don’t Like the music or the fashion that these group of people enjoy It is still America and they are free to do what they please. People for the pissing all over town, the fight, there are other clubs and people whoe enjoy pissing on the street just last week I saw 3 guys (white) taking a leak on the wall with their girls also (white) watching. What about the homeless they need to piss too right???

  28. With the type of music played at the Monte Carlo, it’s going to draw troublemakers from outside the area. http://www.montecarloniteclub.com/Monte_Carlo/Home.html The Monte Carlo loads them up with alcohol then dumps them on the street late at night. That’s always going to create problems.

    Sam — I’d love to see it turned into an art theater. That idea has been kicked around for a while, but it is not financially viable even in a good economy. In the short term, I think the best we can do is to have a strong police presence to let trouble makers know that they are not welcome here.

  29. “Hopefully Mountain Voice can pass all these comments to city council” … who will respond with “affordable housing” initiatives so that the outsiders will move here and no longer be classified as outsiders. Problem solved.

  30. I went by the Monte Carlo last night around 8:00. It’s a nice, classy venue that belongs there, but by playing the music that it does, it is going to bring in a bad element. It would cost the owners nothing to switch to jazz or some other style of music that would draw a better crowd.

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