(CNN) — Two off-duty New Orleans police officers were arrested after allegedly assaulting a man outside a bar early Tuesday, according to the New Orleans Police Department. The two officers involved in the incident, John Galman and Spencer Sutton, were both arrested and charged with simple battery, and termination proceedings have begun for both, police said in a statement. The victim, Jorge Gomez, told CNN affiliate WDSU that he had been at a bar in his New Orleans neighborhood when two men began to question him over his nationality and military service. “He told me I was a fake American,” Gomez said, appearing visibly swollen with stitches on his forehead. “And that I wasn’t in the National Guard either. I told him I served a tour of duty in Iraq.” It was not immediately clear which man Gomez was referring to. He said he was attacked by the officers when he attempted to leave the bar. The victim sustained severe injuries in the incident and was transported to an area hospital, according to NOPD. Gomez has since been released. Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office John Galman and Spencer Sutton were both arrested. Galman and Sutton are 2017 graduates of the NOPD training academy, according to police. “We don’t need that kind of police officer in the city of New Orleans,” Gomez told WDSU. Evidence collected by the Public Integrity Bureau investigators, which included multiple video accounts and eyewitness statements, “clearly demonstrates that our officers were the aggressors in this incident,” NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said in a statement. “Members of our department are expected to comply with the law and adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct, whether on- or off-duty,” the statement said. Attorney Jake Lemmon, who represents Sutton, said that there’s still a lot of investigating that needs to be done. “It’s very early in the case and no conclusions can be drawn at this time based upon the lack of investigation that has happened thus far,” he told CNN. “We intend to do a thorough investigation and present mitigation to the district attorney’s office at the appropriate time.” CNN has reached out to Galman’s attorney for comment. CNN’s Hollie Silverman contributed to this report.<doc-sep>Hide Transcript Show Transcript WEBVTT NOT GUILTY. TRAVERS: JOHN GALMAN AND SPENCER SUTTON WALKED INTO NOPD HEADQUARTER FOR A MEETING WITH THEIR LAWYERS. THAT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE THE OFFICERS, WHO ARE SET TO BE FIRED, WERE ALLOWED TO ENTER MUNICIPAL COURT USING A NON-PUBLIC ENTRANCE TO AVOID THE MEDIA. THEY DIDN’T TELL ME THEY WERE POLICE OFFICERS. THEY NEVER IDENTIFIED THEY WERE POLICE OFFICERS. TRAVERS: BOTH MEN ARE ACCUSED OF BEATING JORGE GOMEZ OUTSIDE OF THE MID-CITY YACHT CLU BOTH OFFICERS WHO ARE ROOKIES, STILL ON PROBATION, WERE OFF-DUTY AND NOT IN UNIFOR THE INITIAL REPORT SAID THE ALTERCATION STARTED INSIDE THE BAR WHEN JOHN GALMAN INITIAL QUESTIONED GOMEZ’S MILITARY SERVICE. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT GOMEZ TOLD US ON TUESDAY. >> HE TOLD ME WAS A FAKE AMERICAN. I WAS NOT IN THE NATIONAL GUARD, EITHER. TRAVERS: RECORDS SHOW GALMAN STRUCK GOMEZ WITH A CLOSED FIST MULTIPLE TIMES. SUTTON TOLD POLICE HE HAD NO SPECIFIC MEMORY OF THE INCIDENT. WE CAUGHT UP WITH THEIR LAWYER OUTSIDE OF COURT YOUR CLIENTS PLEADED NOT GUILTY, ARE THEY? >> I DON')T HAVE ANY COMMENTS. TRAVERS: DID THEY TARGET THIS GENTLEMA BECAUSE HE WAS A FAKE AMERICAN? >> I DON’T HAVE ANY COMMENT AT THIS TIME. TRAVERS: THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WILL REVIEW THE MATTER AND COULD UPGRADE THE CHANGES FROM A MISDEMENOR TO A FELONY GOMEZ HOPES SO. >> WE DON’T NEED THOSE Advertisement NOPD officially fires officers in bar attack; civil rights task force, FBI investigating matter Share Shares Copy Link Copy Two rookie officers with the New Orleans Police Department accused of attacking a veteran outside a Mid-City bar have been fired.Their termination came just hours after the officers appeared in court, running in and out through a nonpublic entrance.In a written statement, officials with the Police Department said:"This investigation is ongoing and the Greater New Orleans Civil Rights Task Force (GNOCRFT), which consists of members of NOPD's public integrity bureau (PIB) and FBI, are actively looking into whether this case meets the elements of a potential civil rights violation. "WDSU obtained the original arrest reports on the former officers.The altercation started at the Mid-City Yacht Club, the Police Department said, when one of the off-duty officers questioned Jorge Gomez's military service. The Louisiana National Guard confirmed that Gomez served in the Guard.On Wednesday in court, both former officers -- John Galman and Spencer Sutton -- pleaded not guilty to simply battery charges, a misdemeanor. The officers were allowed to use a nonpublic entrance to enter and leave the courtroom.The court records also said the officers allegedly struck Gomez with closed fists outside the bar.The initial report also says Sutton told investigators he had no specific memory of the incident. The report also said the Police Department used eyewitness and video surveillance evidence to arrest the officers.The lawyer for the officers didn't say much as they left court. "Your clients pleaded not guilty. Are they?" asked WDSU's Travers Mackel. "I have no comment at this time," said Jake Lemmon, an attorney for the former officers. "Did they target this gentleman because, as he said, they called him a 'fake American'?" asked Mackel. "I really just can't comment at this time," said Lemmon.Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro will review the case, and the charge could be upgraded to a felony.In a written statement, Cannizzaro said:"Our office contended that Magistrate Commissioner Jonathan Friedman acted improperly when he ordered ROR releases for the arrested rookie officers, and today Judge Jupiter agreed with us. It is illegal under Louisiana law to grant an ROR to someone arrested for a crime of violence. In addition, when the defendants are law enforcement officers who have a sworn duty to protect and serve the public, and they violate the trust of the community even while off-duty, the court should be obligated to take a harder look and set an appropriate bond. "We found it disturbing that Commissioner Friedman disregarded the violent nature of the accused officers' acts and improperly ordered their release within an hour of their arrests. Judge Jupiter applied the law properly today when withdrawing that order and requiring these defendants to post bonds. "As with any case, our office will carefully screen the police reports and evidence presented by investigators and determine whether the recommended misdemeanor charges of simple battery should be accepted or modified. "The bond for the former officers was revoked, and a judge re-set it at $1,500, which both paid. The Mid-City Yacht Club also released a statement on the incident, saying:"Mr. Gomez is our long time customer and friend and we are very sickened that this has happened to him. The MCYC family is extremely concerned. We will plan a fundraiser, as long as it is with Mr. Gomez blessing, to help raise money to support Mr. Gomez during this difficult time. "Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!<doc-sep>
Man beaten by rookie NOPD officers outside Mid-City bar says he was called fake American A man who said he was beat up by two rookie off-duty New Orleans police officers said the attack centered around his nationality and his military service.Jorge Gomez, the victim in the attack, spoke to WDSU reporter Travers Mackel the day after the attack at Mid-City Yacht Club.A spokesperson for New Orleans police released the names of the officers, Spencer Sutton and John Galman, both of whom had graduated from the academy in December.Gomez said the two officers, who were terminated Wednesday, asked him about his nationality and his military service. He said he served a tour of duty in Iraq with the National Guard.Gomez said one of the officers called him a fake American and didn't believe he was in the military. The altercation moved outside, where the attack happened, Gomez said.Officials with the New Orleans Police Department said the Public Integrity Bureau began investigating the incident and found that Sutton and Galman were the aggressors.Sutton and Galman were arrested Tuesday on simple battery charges.Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up! A man who said he was beat up by two rookie off-duty New Orleans police officers said the attack centered around his nationality and his military service. Jorge Gomez, the victim in the attack, spoke to WDSU reporter Travers Mackel the day after the attack at Mid-City Yacht Club. A spokesperson for New Orleans police released the names of the officers, Spencer Sutton and John Galman, both of whom had graduated from the academy in December. Gomez said the two officers, who were terminated Wednesday, asked him about his nationality and his military service. He said he served a tour of duty in Iraq with the National Guard. Gomez said one of the officers called him a fake American and didn't believe he was in the military. The altercation moved outside, where the attack happened, Gomez said. Officials with the New Orleans Police Department said the Public Integrity Bureau began investigating the incident and found that Sutton and Galman were the aggressors. Sutton and Galman were arrested Tuesday on simple battery charges. Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!