VENTURA : Man Accused of Lewd Acts at Bar

A 30-year-old Ventura man battered a waiter at the Elephant Bar & Restaurant in Ventura in an attempt to flee after customers claimed that he was standing in a stall in the women’s restroom, police said Thursday.

David Scripps Ladow was arrested Wednesday about 9:50 p.m. on suspicion of committing a lewd act, concealing a crime, resisting arrest, battery, possessing a controlled substance and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Ladow, who had an extremely rapid pulse, was released from police custody and admitted to Ventura County Medical Center for observation, police said. He was listed in good condition Thursday evening, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The incident began when two customers at the Elephant Bar on Walker Street told employees that a man was in the women’s restroom with a mirror rigged to the ceiling to watch women, according to a report filed by Ventura Police Officer Greg Irvine.

After employees told the man to leave the restroom, he tried to flee the restaurant wearing his green underwear over his head to conceal his identity, the report said.

Trying to get out the door, he pushed aside a waiter standing in his way, the report said. The waiter chased him into the parking lot and the two struggled until police arrived to join the struggle to subdue him. Police discovered drug-related paraphernalia and a shaker believed to contain cocaine, Irvine said.