Ex-Flatbush Councilman Charged For Harassing Hookah Lounge Tenant

FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN -- A former Flatbush councilman faces criminal charges after he stormed into a hookah bar with an armed man and tried force his tenants out, court and city records show.

Kendall Stewart, 68, stands accused of threatening the man he found inside 1744 Lounge, located in a building he owns on Nostrand Avenue and Clarendon Road, at about 11:45 a.m., according to a criminal complaint filed in Brooklyn Criminal Court.

"I'm going to come back tomorrow with more people and take care of you," Stewart said, according to the complaint.

Stewart returned as promised to the hookah bar with an armed man and several others at about 5:30 p.m. Friday, court records show.

Stewart was arrested Saturday night, arraigned on criminal mischief, harassment and menacing charges in Brooklyn Criminal Court Sunday, and released without bail, court records show.

Police sources told the New York Post Stewart argued with the hookah lounge owners over city fines.

Stewart represented Flatbush, Midwood and Canarsie as the 45th District city councilman from 2002 to 2009, after two of his aides admitted to embezzling $195,000 from three local community groups.

Stewart's attorney declined to comment on the case and Patch was unable to reach the hookah lounge for an interview.