Hooters Closing After Serving Motorist Who Killed Cop: Report

ROCKVILLE, MD — The Hooters restaurant that served alcoholic drinks to a motorist who later struck and killed a Montgomery County police officer last year has notified the county that it will surrender its liquor license and close its doors on Nov. 1, according to a media report.

Associate County Attorney Kathryn Lloyd announced the restaurant's decision Monday, and the county has canceled a show cause hearing for the Hooters that was scheduled for Aug. 4, WUSA-TV Channel 9 reported. The restaurant is at 1584 Rockville Pike.

Luis Gustavo Reluzco, 47, of Olney, pleaded guilty in May to manslaughter by motor vehicle in the death of Police Officer Noah Leotta. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 23.

Leotta, 24, was struck by Reluzco’s car on Dec. 3 while he was conducting a DUI stop on Rockville Pike; he died a week later. Reluzco had been drinking whiskey and beer at the Hooters for four hours before he got behind the wheel, according to media reports.

The police arrested Reluzco on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. He had been arrested twice before for drunk driving and had a previous conviction for drug possession.

The county liquor board has been investigating whether the Rockville Pike Hooters over-served Reluzco on the night of the accident. Kathie Durbin, division chief at the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control, said in June the restaurant could have been fined up to $20,000, had its liquor license suspended or lose its license altogether if Reluzco was overserved.

Earlier this year, Leotta’s grieving parents traveled to the Maryland Statehouse in Annapolis several times to seek a stricter law regulating convicted drunk drivers, like the man who hit their son.

Rich Leotta and Marcia Goldman joined state legislators and representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Driving in urging lawmakers to expand mandatory ignition interlocks to all drunken driving offenders in Maryland.

Their efforts succeeded. A measure to require such devices passed both houses of the state legislature, and on May 19, Gov. Larry Hogan signed the bill, known as "Noah's Law," according to WTTG-TV Channel 5.

Image: Luis Gustavo Reluzco (MCPD)