Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Jerry Neilson, 59, was arrested and booked into jail after tussling with a female bartender at Sarah’s Bull Pen.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A man with an alleged history of harassing women was arrested and booked into the Graham County Jail after reportedly refusing to leave a local bar and assaulting a bartender.
Jason Scott Nielson, 59, was booked into jail on charges of disorderly conduct and assault. He has since pleaded not guilty in Safford Municipal Court and was given a bond set at $5,000.
According to a Safford Police report, the incident took place at Sarah’s Bull Pen at 912 W. Thatcher Blvd. on Nov. 17, shortly before 9:16 p.m.
Nielson allegedly pushed a female bartender when she attempted to remove him from the bar and they both went to the ground. Bar surveillance corroborates the victim and witness accounts.
According to the victim, Nielson was “being aggressive” toward his girlfriend and that was witnessed by a former girlfriend who allegedly was mistreated in the same way. When the bartender approached Nielson and put her hands on him while advising him he had to leave, he grabbed onto her and took her to the ground. While that occurred, the bartender fought back by throwing punches at Nielson to no effect. Afterward, Nielson got up and left the area. The bartender was treated at the scene by paramedics from Lifeline Ambulance but had no lasting deleterious effects.
At that point, an owner stepped outside and flagged down a passing patrol officer. After getting the information and reviewing the surveillance footage, the officer located Nielson outside another bar in Downtown Safford, where he was taken into custody after being interviewed.
