3 Montauk Business Owners Charged In Coronavirus Crackdown: Town

MONTAUK, NY — Three Montauk business owners were charged with COVID-10 safety protocol violations after a July 4 crackdown, East Hampton town officials said.

The owners or managers of three Montauk establishments were arrested on Saturday night and are facing misdemeanor charges related to violations of the New York State Liquor Authority's alcoholic beverage control laws, revealed during inspections related to COVID-19 safety regulation compliance, a release from East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc said.

On Saturday, a town enforcement and compliance detail consisting of a police officer, fire marshal, and police sergeant visited businesses to ensure compliance with the restrictions placed on restaurants and bars under New York State’s “New York Forward” reopening plan, designed to allow business to safely resume during the COVID-19 pandemic, the release said.

Richard Gibbs, the owner of Rick’s Crabby Cowboy Cafe, Vincenzo Lentini, owner of Ruschmeyer’s, and Jeffrey Capri, the manager of Nick’s on the Beach, are all facing misdemeanor charges for "multiple" violations regarding posting of signage and proper approved storage of alcohol, Van Scoyoc said in the release.

Police officers documented "numerous" additional violations at the three establishments, including some related to COVID-19 health and safety regulations, which will be referred to the State Liquor Authority, Van Scoyoc's release said.

The SLA has the ability to revoke the liquor licenses of businesses that do not operate within regulations; New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has said he would roll back the phased business reopening and shut down restaurant and bars across the board if deemed necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Van Scoyoc reminded.

Videos and photos taken of crowds at several Montauk establishments will be referred by police to the SLA, for potential further charges, the release said.

“While the vast majority of businesses are operating safely, and are respectful of the potential threat from COVID-19, we cannot allow some to operate in ways that threaten the public health as well as the continued ability for other businesses to remain open,” said Van Scoyoc. “I will be asking the State Liquor Authority to suspend the license of any business that openly and repeatedly flouts COVID-19 safety regulations. We cannot afford to have responsible businesses shut down due to irresponsible operators.”

In addition to the task force checking restaurants and bars, which found “a great deal of compliance with the dining, seating, and service of alcohol regulations,” according to East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo, officers responded to 107 calls for service between 6 p.m. on July 4 and 6 a.m. Sunday morning.

Long Island is currently in Phase 3 of the plan to reopen the state's economy; in Phase 3, private gatherings are limited to 25 people or less, restaurants are limited to 50 percent capacity, and alcohol is allowed be served in conjunction with food service and only to patrons who are seated at a six-foot social distance, East Hampton officials reminded. Long Island is slated to move into Phase 4 this week but both Cuomo and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone have said that residents must adhere to social distancing protocols in order to keep the regions from backsliding and the number of coronavirus cases from spiking again.