Andrew Frost & Jean Rolland
Andrew Frost, 19, and Jean Rolland, 28, a gay couple in Scottsdale, ZA, were attacked by seven men on December 18, 2006, as they left a steakhouse where they'd had dinner. The attack seemed to have been the result of the couple being seen holding hands in the restaurant.
The Background
Andrew Frost & Jean Rolland
Frost – a Scottsdale native and graduate of Mesa Westwood High School – and Rolland – a French native and part-time Scottsdale resident – had been dating for a couple of weeks when the had dinner at Frasher's Steakhouse on December 18, 2006. The couple was seen holding hands as they left the restaurant, and were attacked outside.1)
The Attack
Frasher's Steakhouse
Frost and Rolland left the restaurant, holding hands, at about 8:00 p.m.2) They passed two men headed inside, one of whom called them “fags.” Rolland turned and said something to the two men, at which point they attacked the couple. At least five other men from inside the restaurant joined in the attack.3)
The altercation spilled into the restaurant's parking lot, where Rolland said they were set upon by six or seven assailants. Frost and Rolland crumpled to the ground to protect themselves from being punched and kicked. A server later told police that he heard one of the attackers say to the couple something to the effect of “Don't ever hold hands in front of me again.” He did not, however, see which way the assailants ran.4)
Frost was treated at Scottdale Healthcare Osborn for wounds to his face and scalp, and released. He received several staples to treat the would on his scalp, and several stitches to close his facial wounds.5) Rolland was also treated for minor injuries.6)
Frost told The Arizona Republic that the attack was the second he had experienced in the last three years. He was 16, Frost said he was attacked by two teenagers and an adult in Mesa, wielding an aluminum baseball bat.7)
The Aftermath
Restaurant owner, George Frasher, expressed shock at the attack and said that none of the assailants were affiliated with his restaurant.8) He and other staff believed the men were regulars at another south Scottsdale bar.9)
One witness, a server at Frasher's, came forward, and detectives interviewed other members of the staff, to locate others who could identify the attackers.
Paradise Valley Town Councilmen Brian Cooney offered a $10,000 cash reward to encourage witnesses to come forward with information about the assault. Cooney said he was outraged by the incident and was working with police to coordinate cash rewards for witnesses who come forward with information leading to arrests.10)
Despite the offer of $12,000 in rewards, the assault against Frost and Rolland remained unsolved as of July 2007. 11)
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