Tbt* photographer beaten and robbed outside club

ST. PETERSBURG — A photographer for tbt*/Tampa Bay Times was beaten and robbed Monday night near the Vintage Ultra Lounge in downtown St. Petersburg, where he had gone to cover a celebrity's birthday party, police say.

Luis Santana, 25, learned that R&B artists Chris Brown and Rihanna, who opened for Kanye West in Tampa earlier that night, were celebrating Brown's 19th birthday in St. Petersburg.

But as Brown left, Santana took pictures of him in a black stretch limousine. Then guards for the celebrities chased him and forced him to the ground, he said. One guard put his knee on Santana's jaw, and when he tried to push it away, the guards took his camera, worth about $3,000, he said.

Santana has scratches and bruises on his chest, back and arms. He refused treatment at the scene.

"I've shot many, many celebrities, and this was just another notch on my belt," Santana said. "Then it just turned sour."

Neil Brown, the executive editor and vice president of the Times, which publishes tbt*, said Santana was acting appropriately. He added that the paper was cooperating with the police.

"This is outrageous. Our photographer was beaten up taking pictures on a public street," Brown said. "We anticipate the police can and will help us get to the bottom of this. We want our pictures back, and we want somebody held accountable for this assault."

James Guttridge, manager of Vintage Ultra Lounge, said the club instructs security personnel not to get involved in incidents outside the club. Guttridge said guards can't prohibit photographers from being on the public right of way.

Guttridge said a Vintage VIP invited Rihanna to the club while backstage at the show. He confirmed that Rihanna and Chris Brown were at the club Monday night.

He declined to comment on whether the club gave Rihanna a discount or paid her to appear.

Guttridge called the incident unfortunate and said he hopes celebrities will feel welcome in St. Petersburg but also doesn't want residents to be turned off.

Times reporter Abhi Raghunathan contributed to this report. Stephanie Garry can be reached at (727) 892-2374 or sgarry@sptimes.com.

Comments on this article

by Kim	May 8, 2008 1:24 PM
It amazes me the lengths celebs and their security go to to prevent they from being filmed or their picture taken. You chose your career and you know what comes with the territory. If you don't want your picture taken, don't go out in pub

by Mike	May 8, 2008 10:07 AM
Hey Pilsnerman, at least they post your comments. I'm not saying anything offensive and 3/4 of the time, mine never get posted

by pilsnerman	May 7, 2008 7:16 PM
it seems like the editor of this wont let me finish my statement...CENSORSHIP ONCE AGAIN BY THE ST PETE TIME

by pilsnerman	May 7, 2008 5:53 PM
since I was cut off again...thats 1 $50 bill surrounded by a whole bunch of $1's. Oh yeah, lets no forget. I just witnessed a crime but I

by stu	May 7, 2008 5:45 PM
maybe if you asked nicely,may i take your picture please.If i am on the street and you take my picture without asking , you may fall down and hurt yourself

by pilsnerman	May 7, 2008 3:14 PM
Rappers, hip hoppers or whatever you want them; its the same mentality. I got my posse (who they pay to hang around) I got my gold chains (fools gold) I got my pricey car (leased) and my bankroll of cash (1 $50

by Hope	May 7, 2008 1:52 PM
I agree with you Freddy. No wonder the St. Petersburg Times is struggling.

by RICK	May 7, 2008 1:48 PM
THIS IS WHY ST. PETE. IS DYING. SAME WITH TAMPAS CLUB DISTRICT. ITS NOT SAFE FOR PAYING CUSTOMERS.I PARTIED AT EVERY CLUB THERE WAS IN THE EIGHTIES AND NEVER WORRIED THAT THE CLUB WOULD LET THUGS RUN THE PLACE. SUE THE CLUB AND THE THUGS, MAKEEM HURT

by Mo	May 7, 2008 1:19 PM
As usual ignorance always 1st to cry foul. Chris Brown & Rihanna are singers, NOT rappers or THUGS. The club is not a THUG hangout. The CELEBRITY's "BODYGUARDS" are at fault. Not St. Pete, not clubgoers, not the club, not rap music

by TOM	May 7, 2008 12:16 PM
Want to take pictures of trash then go out to the garbage dump.

by ignorance is not the key	May 7, 2008 12:01 PM
to all of u that downsize on rappers are all STUPID.chris brown and rihanna are not rappers.get your sh*t straight before opening your mouths.not all rappers are bad.its just how interpret their music"life" for most of them.C BROWN GET IT 2

by pilsnerman	May 7, 2008 12:00 PM
I suppose that this wannabe rapper Chris Brown will take credit for the beat down saying that he did it to get some street cred. I'm still laughing at the rapper Akon who claims that he was a carjacker and it turns out it never happened. WHAT A

by Dave	May 7, 2008 12:00 PM
How does "being forced to the ground" become 'beaten'? Hyping the headline a little? It shouldn't of happened and the guards were wrong. But still 'beaten'?

by Freddy	May 7, 2008 12:00 PM
Disgusting that "Florida's Best Newspaper" feels the need to get into the paparazzi game. Doesn't make what happened to the photographer right but TBT has really lowered the standards of Times Publishing.

by Lola	May 7, 2008 11:59 AM
Just ANOTHER fight "outside" Vintage. Just make sure it happens on the sidewalk. In that case we take no responsibility. (feel safe here??) Celebrities know once they become famous.. cameras are everywhere. DUH!

by ron	May 7, 2008 11:58 AM
It just goes to show the prejudice that exists in this area. Chris Brown is not even a rapper!

by EJR	May 7, 2008 11:58 AM
First off Chris Brown is not a rapper/hip hop artist. It's sad that this guy got ruffed up for doing his job, no one deserves that.

by mj	May 7, 2008 11:58 AM
Uh, Chris Brown is not a rapper. He sings. Same for Rihanna. Singer.

by Kelly	May 7, 2008 11:08 AM
All of you keep blaming this on "rappers." Chris Brown is NOT a rapper.

by Gary	May 7, 2008 9:47 AM
Hey Luis: So you wanna be a cool-guy papparazzi and get in the face of famous thugs 'n drugs folks? Take your beatings. Get on your knees for them. Maybe you'll get rich. Sometimes you eat the bear. Sometimes the bear eats you. W

by Vincent	May 7, 2008 9:46 AM
Sad situation. Another example of the downfall. Who cares who this person is. Elvis never had his guards beet up the press.

by mtmartian	May 7, 2008 9:46 AM
Shame on you Chris Brown!

by Jamie	May 7, 2008 9:46 AM
I've had it with these rappers. They are the scum of the earth.

by JV	May 7, 2008 9:29 AM
Well, there's rap music for you. Nothing but mindless thugs. And why anyone would want to make a living as a paparazzi is beyond me. Sure he's a Times employee, but celebrity chasers are all the same.

by Chip	May 7, 2008 9:29 AM
Those aren't bodyguards, they are a bunch of punk sissy thugs. How many does it take to subdue a guy with a camera? Pull Chris Brown's lame pansy butt into the police station. He hired them. I can't wait to hear a sleazeball attorney

by charles	May 7, 2008 9:28 AM
Hip hop rappers or whatever they call themselves, are not artists. They are thugs, with large groups of other thugs that hang around them and wait for the chance to assault an innocent person. This time the photographer was the one.

by Marv	May 7, 2008 9:28 AM
Typical thuggery that should be expected from such "artists". Why is anyone surprised?

by Else	May 7, 2008 9:28 AM
I'm disgusted by the violence and theft and rest assured I won't be going. I will frequent the other new clubs in the area, since this place is obviously unsafe. I don't support thugs and clubs that act as thug hangouts.