Miss Kitty's customers claim they were beaten after they left without buying a drink

Two Arkansans men who claim they were restrained and allegedly assaulted by employees of a St. Clair County bar, are suing over injuries sustained in the incident.

Steven Johnson and Alonzo E. Williams filed individual lawsuits Feb. 19 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, against eight unnamed individuals and Miss Kitty's Inc.

According to their complaints, on Oct. 3, 2014, Johnson and Williams were at Miss Kitty's when security informed them they needed to buy a drink in order to stay.

They tried to leave the establishment, the suits state, at which point three bouncers surrounded them and began using "violent physical force" to restrain them against their will, striking them repeatedly in the body and face.

The suits say the attacks caused the plaintiffs to have "a well-founded fear of imminent peril due to corporal injury by force."

The plaintiffs seek damages in excess of $50,000 against Miss Kitty's and the first three unnamed defendants for assault and battery; another $50,000 from all unnamed defendants and the establishment for false imprisonment; and $50,000 from Miss Kitty's for negligence.

The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Courtney R. Logan and Andrew G. Toennies of Lashly and Baer in St. Louis.

Johnson - St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 15-L-95.

Williams - St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 15-L-98.