Lazai Bean, 27, faces public intoxication, assault and sexual battery charges in connection with a reported encounter at a restaurant in The Gulch. Police also responded to an allegation that he tried to enter a nearby apartment complex without permission.
According to WKRN News 2, officers were called to the 600 block of 8th Avenue South on Thursday after Bean allegedly tried to enter an apartment complex there without permission. That call led investigators to the restaurant employee, who said Bean had assaulted her after placing a food order at the restaurant where she worked.
The Gulch’s mixed-use setting
Metro Planning Commission minutes from 2021 described The Gulch as a 60-acre mixed-use downtown neighborhood with residences, retail shops, restaurants and entertainment venues, according to the Metro Planning Commission.
The arrest documents say the employee reported that Bean reached across the counter, grabbed her arm, pulled her around the counter and made contact with her breasts. Restaurant witnesses told officers their observations supported her account, according to the station’s report.
Charges and Bond
Bean is facing charges of public intoxication, assault and sexual battery, per the arrest documents referenced in the report. His bond was set at $6,500, the same account states. The evidence reviewed does not establish the case’s current status in court, and no response from Bean or an attorney has been made public.
Support Resources
The Sexual Assault Center, which provides support to victims of sexual assault, can be reached at 866-811-7474, according to the article.
