Bar In Altercation Video Gets Liquor License Suspended

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — The New York State Liquor Authority suspended the license Wednesday of a Poughkeepsie bar after a video surfaced of a security guard allegedly assaulting a patron. Sweetheart Enterprises Inc., doing business as Milo’s Cantina at 205 Main St. in Poughkeepsie, cannot sell alcohol or allow it to be consumed on the premises effectively immediately.

The bar has also been charged with four violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, including operating a disorderly premises, failure to supervise and employing unlicensed security guards.

The decision was ordered by SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley and Commissioner Greeley Ford at a meeting of the full board.

On May 31, a patron was allegedly assaulted by a security guard at Milo’s Cantina, and the incident was captured by another patron on video.

SLA Enforcement opened an investigation after receiving numerous complaints, including the video which was posted on YouTube and other social media sites.

The video apparently shows the bouncer, who is employed by Milo’s Cantina, initially preventing a patron from leaving the bar, then slamming him to the ground in a chokehold.

The bouncer continues to hold the patron on the ground in a chokehold for more than two minutes, during which the patron does not appear to be acting aggressively or resisting.

During the video, none of the bar’s staff attempts to intervene. The video shows the manager and another staff member working behind the bar picking up bar stools that had been knocked over.

The manager is seen on the video telling the person recording the video to leave the bar and then can be seen locking the door with the victim still being held down by the bouncer.

When the victim is finally allowed to stand, he tried to leave again but is blocked by the bouncer when the video ends.

SLA investigators visited the bar June 6 to meet with the owner, who said he was not present during the incident.

He told the investigators that his staff said the assaulted patron was acting obnoxiously and used foul language. The owner also said the patron dumped shots on the bar and threatened the bouncer with a knife.

The owner claimed the video had been edited to remove the bouncer’s voice saying that the patron had a knife, and claimed that video from the bar’s security cameras shows the knife being taken away from the patron. The SLA said no such video was turned over to investigators.

The state confirmed the bouncer was not a licensed security guard, and that the application filed with the SLA stated the owner would not employ security personnel.

Deputy Counsel to the Authority Lisa Ogden said the video captured a disturbing scene which shows the very person who should be preventing these kinds of incidents committing an assault.

“The actions of this bar’s manager, or lack thereof, are equally problematic,” she said. “Rather than take control of the situation, she simply locked the door and idly looked on as her bouncer slammed a patron onto the floor, held him in a chokehold and proceeded to pummel him on the ground. The SLA will take immediate action against any licensee whose employees’ actions threaten the safety of their patrons.”

A statement posted on the website of Milo’s Cantina by an attorney representing the establishment said the patron is Mike Boyce, owner of Queen City Tattoo, a neighboring business.

Attorney Jonna Spilbor, who is representing the bar, said the video does not show Boyce having “friendly contact” earlier with the bouncer or Boyce using a racial slur while downing tequila shots.

“[W]hile we understand that the cellphone video, in and of itself, may be perceived as disturbing, it is not a full and complete depiction of the series of events occurring before, during and after the incident,” Spilbor said.

She said that since the video was posted the bar’s staff, owner and family members have been subjected to death threats and threats of bodily harm.

Spilbor said every message and post using threatening language is being collected and turned over to the police.

Boyce declined to pursue criminal charges, but has retained an attorney to potentially pursue other charges, the Poughkeepsie Journal said.

The video can be seen here. Warning: It contains extremely vulgar language and violence.

Photo credit: Google Maps.