Bouncer receives more than a dozen stitches after Miami Beach bar fight

Juan Flores was trying to protect man when struck by bottle

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A bouncer who tried to prevent a man from being beaten at a bar in Miami Beach received more than a dozen stitches on his hand and arms after he was struck with a broken bottle.

The brawl was reported about 11:30 p.m. Saturday at The Playwright Irish Pub at 1265 Washington Ave.

The bouncer, Juan Flores, is hoping that someone will recognize the two attackers in cellphone footage of the fight and turn them in to police.

"There's people out there that care for others and try to save them, and that's me," Flores said.

Three days after the fight, Flores said he is still feeling the pain.

"My girlfriend, right now, she’s helping me with getting dressed, taking a shower, opening doors (and) doing things that I can't do now," Flores said.

Flores was working the door at The Playwright on Saturday night when he said a man came running in asking for protection, telling him that two men were trying to jump him.

"I said, 'OK, OK. Stand right behind me. Where they at?'" Flores said.

Police said the men showed up moments later, armed with a PVC pipe and a bottle.

Police said they forced their way into the bar, starting an all-out brawl.

"People started screaming, chairs flying, bottles," Flores said.

Flores and a bartender tried to stop the fight, but the attackers just kept fighting them.

The men, including the original victim, eventually ran out of the pub, leaving Flores with deep cuts on his hands and arm and the bartender with a possible broken nose.

"I'm not trying to be someone that I'm not, but I'm just someone that tried to help out. But I would like the bad guys to get out of the street," Flores said.

Investigators are still searching for the men in the video who started the fight.

Anyone with information is asked to call Miami Beach police or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.