[ad_1]
The co-owner of a Staten Island bar who officials say continued to defy New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s coronavirus restrictions was arrested Sunday morning for the second time in less than a week after allegedly hit a deputy with his car, authorities said.
Danny Presti was trying to leave his bar, Mac’s Public House, after MPs saw patrons entering the establishment on Saturday night in violation of city and state closure orders, the New York Sheriff said , Joseph Fucito.
STATEN ISLAND BAR co-owner SPEAKS AFTER ARREST TO DEFY COVID-19 ORDERS FROM NEW YORK
When MPs tried to arrest the 34-year-old bar owner, he got into his car and drove off, hitting a MP, Fucito said. Presti continued to drive for about 100 yards with the deputy hanging off the hood before being stopped and apprehended, the sheriff said.
Charges against Presti were pending.
Mac’s Public House co-owner Danny Presti is taken away in handcuffs after being arrested Tuesday by New York Sheriff’s deputies in New York’s Staten Island neighborhood. Presti, who was providing service indoors in defiance of coronavirus restrictions, was arrested after an injection in which plainclothes officers entered and ordered food and drink. (Steve White via AP)
The injured deputy was taken to hospital for treatment, although his condition was not immediately available.
Presti’s attorney, Lou Gelormino, told Fox News on Sunday that his client was arrested overnight as he left the pub and spent the night in jail. Gelormino has said he hopes Presti will be released at noon on Sunday.
Presti had previously been arrested on Tuesday night after the bar continued to serve customers inside and operate after the 10 p.m. curfew for Cuomo’s food service throughout town. The sheriff’s office said plainclothes officers could come inside and order food and drink at the time.
New York sheriff’s deputies stand outside Mac’s Public House following the arrest on Tuesday of co-owner Danny Presti. (Steve White via AP)
The tavern is in an area designated by Cuomo as an “orange zone” due to rising COVID-19 rates and was not supposed to serve customers inside. But Presti and her business partner Keith McAlarney had seen it as a “self-contained area” in the spirit of this summer’s Seattle “CHAZ” enclave.
Many businesses – especially restaurants and bars – have been severely affected by government-imposed closures in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Presti’s supporters gathered outside the bar on Wednesday to protest his arrest and Cuomo’s orders.
Presti told “Fox & Friends” after his first arrest that he would not stop fighting to save his business.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“At this point,” Presti said, “we lose faith, and we kind of lose faith in the ability of our local and municipal governments to help us.”
Fox News’ Maria Paronich, Caleb Parke and Charles Creitz, as well as the Associated Press contributed to this report.
[ad_2]
Source link