FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission said Wednesday it is investigating its joint police raid on a gay bar that left one man hospitalized with a head injury and sparked claims of brutality and procedure violations.

The agency said it would review the agents' actions and determine how Chad Gibson was injured. He had been arrested and was in a TABC agent's custody when he was injured, and he also needed treatment for alcohol poisoning when paramedics took him to the hospital, according to the agency.

"We are saddened that this incident occurred and extend our sincere hope that Mr. Gibson recovers quickly," agency Administrator Alan Steen said in a statement. "I take seriously all allegations concerning inappropriate or illegal behavior by our employees. We have in the past, and we will in the future, take action against any employee found to have violated agency policy or the law."

Gibson, 26, was in fair condition Wednesday at a Fort Worth hospital, a spokeswoman said. His family has said he suffered bleeding on the brain.

Early Sunday morning some TABC agents and Fort Worth police officers went to the Rainbow Lounge after going to two other bars that don't have a gay clientele. Authorities said they were doing routine inspections to ensure compliance with state alcoholic beverage laws. In all, more than a dozen people were arrested for public intoxication, a misdemeanor.

But some Rainbow Lounge patrons said authorities grabbed people or shoved them onto the ground. They have denied police claims that anyone groped or made lewd gestures toward officers. On Sunday night about 100 people protested in downtown Forth Worth, and a vigil was planned at the bar on Wednesday night.

"We are a peaceful people," said Todd Camp, who was celebrating his 43rd birthday there that night. "The fact that they chose to use intimidation and scare tactics created a different vibe."

Camp said when he has been at other bars during TABC inspections, agents first went to the manager and bartenders to check permits. At one bar several years ago, the music stopped and someone announced the inspection over the loudspeaker, so patrons cooperated when agents then checked some IDs and approached others if they appeared heavily intoxicated, Camp said.

But early Sunday, the music was still playing and the lights were low when officers and agents moved quickly inside, several witnesses have said. The TABC agents didn't identify themselves, and the back of their shirts read "state police," so many were confused about why they were there, Camp said.

"If anyone dared ask what was going on, they were handcuffed or taken out," said Camp, the founder and artistic director of Q Cinema, Fort Worth's gay and lesbian international film festival. "I was afraid that night, and I don't want to be afraid of the police. It's a question of fair treatment and respect."

According to the agency's inspections policy, agents are supposed to identify themselves, say they are conducting an inspection, talk to the representative and then the manager. Then agents are supposed to explain the inspection, find the permit or license and then observe the bar for any violations before taking actions, if necessary.

TABC spokeswoman Carolyn Beck said the internal investigation would determine whether agents violated procedures, declining further comment.

The TABC, which conducts about 128,000 inspections of some 40,000 licensed bars and restaurants statewide annually, said another goal of its investigation was to determine how the three Fort Worth bars were chosen.

Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead has said that gay people were not targeted in the inspection. Like the TABC, Halstead has asked people at the bar that night to come forward with information that could help his department's internal investigation into the matter.

According to a police report about the incident, the officers conducted "bar checks" at three places that "are known to routinely over-serve alcohol to patrons who are already intoxicated to a degree they are a danger to themselves and others."

But the Rainbow Lounge, a gay bar for years, had just reopened with a new name and manager after being closed for a couple of years, Camp said.

Police did not immediately return a call for comment.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)