Bartenders Suing Nassau Police, Claim Illegal Search And Arrest

A group of Farmingdale bartenders have filed a lawsuit against the County of Nassau, the Nassau County Police Department and more than 20 police officers after they say their were targeted for a search of the bar they were working at, illegally arrested and strip-searched without need. They are seeking unspecified compensation and a jury trial.

The five bartenders were all employed by That Meetball Place Too, located at 206 Main St. in Farmingdale, and allege that Lt. James Brown targeted the restaurant on a particularly busy day in the hopes of causing it financial damage, made up charges to arrest the bartenders and then humiliated the female barenders by watching them while they were strip-searched and then forced to give urine samples.

Nassau County Police Department Det. Lt. Richard LeBrun told Newsday that the department "stands behind our officers," but would not comment on the case.

According to a lawsuit filed in New York's Eastern District Court, the incident occurred on Nov. 25, 2017 -- the Saturday after Thanksgiving -- which is one of the busiest days of the year for the bar/restaurant. The bartenders allege that Brown, leading 10 or so other officers, entered the bar around 11:20 p.m., pulled out their badges and announced they were there conduct a liquor license check.

The large police presence, the lawsuit says, caused many customers to leave, and the officers stopped others from entering. The officers began to search the two floors of the establishment, the lawsuit says, looking for illegal or contaminated bottles, or any other violations.

The restaurant's manager, Ralph Reale, confronted Brown, the lawsuit says, who responded by verbally abusing him and having him placed under arrest. While he was under arrest in the back of a police van, the lawsuit says that Reale heard Brown tell another officer to "go in and f--- this place up."

During the search, the bartenders claim that the officers falsely said they found pre-mixed drinks and found insects inside two bottles of liquor. The bartenders claimed they did not pre-mix drinks, and that there were no insects, and that the officers did not bother to photograph the contaminated bottles or take them for testing.

The five bartenders were all arrested and taken to the Second Precinct. There, they claim that Brown had the men and woman detained in separate locations, and then ordered the women to be strip searched. The lawsuit says that each woman was taken to a bathroom and told to face the wall. She was then uncuffed and told to take off her shoes, pull down her pants and lift up her shirt and bra. They were then all told to urinate for a drug test. The lawsuit alleges that this all happened while the bathroom door was open and Brown watched, and it was done just to cause them distress.

The lawsuit also alleges that the male bartenders were not searched in such a fashion.

The bartenders were ultimately charged with pre-mixing drinks. Those charges were dismissed by the District Attorney's office.

The lawsuit goes on to say that, on Nov. 15, 2018, Brown returned to That Meetball Place Too with more officers for another liquor license check, once again making customers leave during a very busy time for the restaurant.

That Meetball Place Too has a valid liquor license, according to the New York State Liquor Authority.

The five bartenders -- Erin Whelan, Sarah Garcia, Danielle Read, Patrick Odierna and Brendan Lafferty -- are suing the county and the police claiming that their Constitutional rights were violated by their arrest and searches. They are seeking a jury trial and monetary compensation to be determined at trial.

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