Bouncer Accused of Raping Woman in Club Bathroom

Duvet

A bouncer at the Flatiron District's Duvet is accused of raping an intoxicated woman inside a stall in the club's ladies' room on October 25th. Ex-con Hunter Dupree, 33, isn't legally allowed to work as a bouncer because of his criminal record, but that didn't stop the club (which also goes by the name Climax) from hiring him. The 23-year-old victim says she was "incapacitated" in a stall as the club was closing at 4 a.m., and when Dupree called out to ask if anyone was in restroom, she cried for help.

But instead of assistance, she says he raped her. Her fiancee took her to the hospital and the police were notified, but Dupree wasn't arrested until last week, when he was busted in a robbery on East 23rd Street near Park Avenue. Police sources tell the Post that he and three others allegedly punched and kicked a man, knocking him to the ground. While his accomplices continued assaulting the man, Dupree allegedly stripped off the man's jacket, boots, pants and hat.

That victim was hospitalized with facial injuries, and Dupree was also charged with rape after the woman and other witnesses picked out his mug shot. But a lawyer for Dupree, who did three years in prison for gun possession, tells the Daily News she probably just made up the story: "You never know who is going to come and say, 'He attacked me."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on December 4, 2009 5:39 PM

Comments [rss]

resa

My daughter's (female) friend was attacked (beat up) by a bouncer in Bay Ridge early this year, with my daughter as a witness. Afterwards, the manager claimed not to know the guy.He has yet to be arrested. MrManhattan, you really are not funny and this isn't funny.

Stewart

Today's Post reports that the club is now closed.

Abbott

Assuming her allegations are true, I hope she sues the hell of the owner of this club. A message needs to be sent to club owners that hiring criminals and thugs to provide "security" for patrons is unacceptable. I mean seriously, how many of us have seen bouncers acting like the fucking LAPD at clubs here? It's like club owners go out of there way to hire only the biggest pricks in the city to work their door.

johnmd64

Anyone who goes to velvet rope place like that gets what they deserve.

Guest

That guy sounds scary.

And here is another reason to not be wasted and vulnerable.

MrManhattan

I really don't understand why New Jersey doesn't open up it's own clubs for perps and victims to meet. Why bother with the driving,tolls and parking in New York when this could all happen locally?

Ana

Maybe the owner got hiring pointers from Jay Z.

Tee

I am not surprised about the incident that recently took place at the horrible club. I was in club Duvet on Halloween & four of the bouncers (Dupree was probably one of them) beat a man & then literally picked him up & threw him out of the club. The club owner should be held responsible for whatever takes place inside Duvet. He is negligent in hiring Dupree without conducting a thorough background check.

ocm123

This club has a long history of violence. Anybody remember the fatal stabbing that occurred there two years ago?

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2007/11/24/2007-11-24_rapper_fabolous_friend_is_fatally_stabbe-1.html

Lawrence

While I have nothing but admiration and respect for the NYPD, there's something troubling about the amount of time it takes them to react to crimes perpetrated against women by bouncers in clubs. A couple of years ago, a female friend of mine was assaulted at a club on 27th Street, in the neighboring 10th Precinct. Her bag and credit cards were stolen by the bouncer who, that night, went on a buying spree. It took three months for the police to arrest the guy -- from what I understand, initially on a different charge -- despite the fact he had the goods that he purchased with her credit cards sent directly to his home.

You would think that after the murder of Imette St. Guillen, the NYPD would be more vigilant when women come forward with claims of being attacked. However, it seems that if an assault occurs inside a club, the NYPD takes its time (note the arrest occurred not after the woman was assaulted at the club but when the bouncer committed a crime elsewhere).

In the bad old days, some cops were often on the take, receiving cash under the table to look away when clubs had illegal activities occurring. It would be upsetting if that's what's going on still. These several incidents should raise a red flag that some sort of investigation should be done on how the police handles crimes occurring inside clubs and, if need be, determine if corruption is the reason it takes so long for victims -- particularly women -- to see some sort of action taken. Getting these thugs off the streets as soon as possible makes the neighborhoods, and not just the clubs, safer.

longacre

You'd think after all these incidents, and probably hundreds of others that go unreported, girls would stop going to these clubs, or if they insist on going, try to avoid getting blackout drunk.

Snoopy

"The 23-year-old victim says she was "incapacitated"

Could we have a little more elaboration on this item?

gothamguy

sure, she was so loaded that after she went into the stall to puke she couldn't get back up.

Snoopy

I believe you have been watching "Serpico" too often. The average cop just stands around and poses or writes up someone for chaining their bike to a mail box and feels he is protecting the world.

They are not crime solvers. For the most part they have a problem remembering where they parked their sector car after going into the coffee shop.

Lawrence

Not really, guy. I know of at least one club owner who bragged about having "worked out a deal" with cops at his local precinct so that if any trouble occurred inside his place, the write-up would say it happened outside. This protected his liquor license.

NattyB

Who get's jacked at 23rd and Park?

TheTruth

#1 sign the recession is a depression: people are being violently mugged for their pants on 23rd St.

longacre

Maybe they were really fancy. Fancy pants.

fauxsella

"You never know who is going to come and say, 'He attacked me."

With legal defense representation that good, who needs prosecutors?

Snoopy

Just close the place down for hiring him. Maybe in the future these clubs will do a better background check on who they hire. Even Home Depot and WalMart do a better job then they do.