(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>Two New Orleans police officers were charged with battery this week after beating up a man they decided was a "fake American," reports CBS News. The officers were white and the victim hispanic; they told him they "didn't like his camouflage clothing." Spencer Sutton and John Galman were booked on one count each of simple battery in connection with the beating of Jorge Alberto "George" Gomez early Tuesday, reports CBS affiliate WWL-TV. Gomez said the two off-duty officers, who are white, began harassing him inside Mid-City Yacht Club, saying they didn't like his camouflage clothing and asking him whether he had served in the military, reports the New Orleans Advocate. Gomez said he told the men he was born in the U.S. but was raised in Honduras before he returned to live in New Orleans and served in the National Guard, but the men wouldn't accept his answer. WWL-TV confirmed that Gomez, who is Hispanic, served with the Louisiana National Guard.<doc-sep>Photo : New Orleans Police via the New Orleans Advocate New Orleans Police have arrested two of their own for allegedly jumping a Latino man early Tuesday morning outside a bar. According to the victim, Jorge Gomez, the officers targeted him because they “didn’t like the way I was dressing.” Advertisement As the New Orleans Advocate reports, Gomez, 36, was wearing camouflage at the time of the altercation, which offended the officers, Gomez says. “He asked me if I was American,” he told the paper, referring to one of his alleged attackers. “I told him yes, and he got mad because he said I was fake.” Police Superintendent Michael Harrison wrote in a statement to the Advocate that witness statements and video taken of the altercation “clearly” show officers John Galman and Spencer Sutton, two NOPD recent hires, instigating the fight outside the mid-city Yacht Club. The department has also started the termination process for the two officers, who had yet to complete their probationary period with NOPD. “The swift pace at which the Public Integrity Bureau investigated this incident and the decisive actions taken by the NOPD ... by arresting the officers and starting the termination process clearly demonstrate how seriously our department views their actions,” Harrison wrote. Galman and Sutton were off-duty at the time. A video interview with Gomez after the attack shows the extent of his injuries. His lips and the entire left side of his face are swollen—so much so that his left eye can’t open. Advertisement Screenshot from New Orleans Advocate video “I told them I didn’t want to be harassed. I told them I was not interested in trying to engage in any conversation with them,” Gomez said of the two men, who singled him out because of his military attire. Advertisement According to CNN, Galman initiated contact with Gomez, who says he was called over and asked by one of the men if he was an American or had served in the military. The 36-year-old, who speaks with an accent, replied that he had served for the National Guard and was an American citizen. Then one of the officers—presumably Galman—started listing his tours of duty. Advertisement “I told them I was the same way. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Honduras,” Gomez, who says he was enlisted in the National Guard, recounted to the Advocate. Galman didn’t believe him. “He told me I was a fake American and I was not in the National Guard either,” he said, adding that he thought the attack could be considered a hate crime. Advertisement Gomez said he was jumped in the bar before the attack spilled out on the street—just a block away from his house. Initially, officers tried to pin the attack on Gomez, writes the A dvocate. In their version of the story, Gomez followed the officers in their car after they left the bar. Citing contacts within the NOPD, the Advocate writes: “[Gomez] got out of his car, the sources said, and threatened the officers, who said they attacked him in self-defense. One source said the man was brandishing a heavy walking stick as a weapon.” Advertisement According to the Advocate, Gomez uses a walking cane to help with back problems. Galman and Sutton have been charged with simple battery—a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of six months and a $1,000 fine, but internal investigators at the NOPD may upgrade the charges, police say.<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!