Inwood Cafe Owner Sues Neighbor For Tormenting Employees, Customers

INWOOD, NY — An Inwood restaurant owner is suing a man who lives in an apartment above the eatery for regularly harassing employees and diners for nearly two years, the man's lawyer confirmed with Patch.

Jason Minter, owner of the Indian Road Café on West 218th Street, has filed a lawsuit against Jay Meetze, according to legal documents. Minter's lawyer Larry Hutcher confirmed with Patch that a Manhattan Supreme Court judge has since approved a temporary restraining order against Meetze.

Meetze, who lives in the same building as the Indian Road Café, began tormenting restaurant staff in 2015, the Daily News reported. According to the lawsuit, Meetze blamed the restaurant because he believed the chef masterminded a scheme to rob him during a drug deal gone bad, the New York Post reported.

In retaliation Meetze threatened to have an ex-boyfriend break the chef's arms and legs, began filming restaurant employees, blasted obscene music from his windows, called in a fake bomb threat to the restaurant and tried to lick spoons at the restaurant's coffee bar, according to both reports citing the lawsuit.

Meetze and his lawyers can challenge the temporary restraining order at a hearing on or before September 13, according to documents sent to Patch.

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