Platnum Plus Bouncer to Avoid Jail Time in Plea Deal
There’s an interesting discussion in the comments of one of the posts I wrote about this case where people who say they’re dancers at the club argue about the professionalism of the bouncers there and the club in general. Frankly, I’ve been to bars of all kinds and have never been “bounced” but I’ve seen who does get thrown out. The death of Joseph Collura is tragic but really was probably a bar fight gone wrong.
And the bouncers at a high end strip club don’t pick fights.
So as much as it pains the family this plea deal is probably a good call:
Platinum Plus Bouncer Charged 6 Weeks After Customer’s Death
It’s been six weeks since 36-year-old Joseph Collura died of asphyxiation after being bounced from the Platinum Plus strip club in Greenville. Now, Jason Alan Purcell, the bouncer deputies believe compressed Collura’s neck, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Investigators say Purcell, a bouncer, was carrying the victim with his arm wrapped around the victim’s neck, as he threw Collura out of the adult nightclub, after a dispute over an ID.
The autopsy found Collura died of asphyxia due to compression of the neck. Purcell was the only employee charged in connection with this incident as he was found to be the only person to compress Collura’s neck.
Purcell was denied bond at his bond hearing Thursday night.
A conviction could mean five years in prison for 31-year-old Purcell. He is being held at the Greenville County Detention Center.
Death at Platinum Plus Still Under Investigation
Joseph M. Collura died of asphyxiation due to pressure on his neck, says Greenville County Deputy Coroner Tom Selfridge, but County deputies are still unsure exactly what happened to the 36-year-old father of two.
What they know is that Collura took his last breaths shortly after getting bounced from the Platinum Plus strip club Thursday night:
Bouncers had responded to an incident inside the nightclub and had taken Collura outside and left him there, according to Lt. Tim Ridgeway.
A short while later, a friend of the man noticed that he didn’t seem to be breathing while under the front-door awning, Ridgeway said.
Deputies were called to the club at 805 Frontage Road alongside Interstate 385 just before 9 p.m., Deputy Matthew Armstrong said. A deputy wrote in an incident report that the man had blood on his nose.
Collura was pronounced dead at Greenville Memorial Hospital just after 10 p.m. Although the Coroner’s Office has identified asphyxiation as the cause of death, pending toxicology results may help shed additional light on the events leading up to Collura’s sudden death.
Investigators are conducting extensive interviews with Platinum Plus patrons and employees, and are reviewing surveillance video from the club. No charges have been filed.
Joseph Collura leaves behind his wife of 12 years, Trina Skasko Collura, and two young daughters. Memorial contributions may be made to the Collura Children Memorial Fund c/o SunTrust Bank, 1630 John B. White, Sr. Boulevard, Spartanburg, SC 29301.