Staten Island Bar GM arrested after defying closure again, hitting deputy with car – NBC New York



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What there is to know

  • The general manager of a Staten Island bar has been arrested for the second time in a week for opening in violation of COVID rules
  • Daniel Presti allegedly hit a sheriff’s deputy with his car as he fled an arrest – and continued to drive with the deputy hanging on the hood
  • Presti’s bar, Mac’s Public House, has become a hotspot after declaring itself a “self-contained area” that would not comply with closure orders

The general manager of a Staten Island bar who has repeatedly defied public health shutdown orders is now under arrest for allegedly reopening and then punching a sheriff’s deputy in s ‘fleeing in his car.

The New York Sheriff’s Office said MPs attempted to take Danny Presti, 34, into custody just after midnight Sunday after watching customers enter Mac’s public house through an empty shopping space next door.

After identifying themselves, the sheriff’s office said Presti allegedly fled on foot, got into his car, entered one of the deputies, and then continued driving with the injured deputy hanging on the hood.

MPs eventually managed to stop the car and take Presti into custody; Charges are pending and the injured MP has been taken to hospital for treatment.

Earlier in the evening, Presti came out of the bar to speak to the media: “There is still sadness inside because we have to open up everyone. I get phone calls from other business owners and the staff at these places and they’re still trying to figure out how they plan to rent this month and how to get Christmas presents for their kids. “

The bar documented some of the night’s events on Facebook, posting a short video around the time of Presti’s arrest along with a statement.

“After a hard day’s work, the sheriffs hid like snakes in the grass and waited until Danny was gone to finally come home and rest! Mac’s Public House on Facebook posted a reading, in part, on Sunday morning.

“We won’t back down! You didn’t scare us !! The world is watching and it’s time for everyone to wake up!” the message continued.

The incident ends a week in which the bar lost its liquor license, received quit as well as cease and desist orders, was fined several thousand dollars, and became the Theater of protests against Governor Andrew Cuomo’s COVID-19 micro-cluster. rules.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Grant City bar on Wednesday, a day after it closed after publicly declaring itself an “autonomous zone” and not adhering to New York’s COVID-19 measures.

A large crowd gathered outside Mac’s Public House in Staten Island on Wednesday after one of the bar’s owners was arrested for keeping the restaurant inside open. Reports by Ida Siegal of NBC New York.

The crowd stopped traffic outside, demanding that the bar be allowed to open. Sheriff’s deputies stood outside the entrance to the bar, which was closed after insisting on continuing the food service inside. But that didn’t stop the protesters from screaming in anger not only at officers outside, but also at Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for implementing the restrictions that prevented the bar to operate inside the service. The bar is located in an orange zone, which prohibits all dining inside.

Bar co-owner Keith McAlarney has kept his bar open for the past two weeks as the orange zone has been in place on this section of Staten Island. He said he had to stay open because it meant he would be able to pay the bills and feed his family, but he’s now calling on other small businesses to join his fight.

Supporters lined up outside a Staten Island bar, upset that it was closed for repeatedly defying the city and state’s COVID-19 restrictions. NBC New York’s Phil Lipof reports.

“It’s time for all small businesses and all citizens, it’s time to rise up and open up,” McAlarney said earlier this week. “All the small businesses are standing up. The citizens are there, they want you to be open. We have to make a living.”

On Tuesday evening, the bar’s general manager, Presti, was arrested for opening. The 34-year-old was uncooperative and charged with obstructing government administration in addition to charges stemming from unauthorized food and drink service, the sheriff said.

“Anything we can do to keep the people safe that we have. In the meantime, if we go to Lowe’s and Home Depot now, there are 500 people walking around and touching everything,” Presti told the ‘time. “Besides having hand sanitizer when you walk in, what’s the safety procedure?”

Health officials say the difference is the mask – it can be worn in stores and other places, but people can’t wear one while eating and drinking. Protesters, some of whom were not wearing masks, say they want to take the risk.

A tavern on Staten Island is defying coronavirus restrictions imposed by city and state in order to stay open, Phil Lipof reports.

Mac’s declared himself an “autonomous zone” – a nod to protesters claiming control of a Seattle neighborhood in June – in which he was not following state or city rules regarding COVID closures domestic services. The bar was caught breaking orders after an injection in which plainclothes officers entered and ordered food and drinks, the city sheriff’s office said.

New York sheriffs said deputies monitored the bar on Tuesday after receiving complaints about eating inside after the 10 p.m. curfew. The deputy sheriffs saw 14 people inside the bar, many of whom were eating and drinking alcoholic beverages, according to the sheriff’s office. Officers in plain clothes who were seated at a table ordered food and drink “in exchange for a mandatory” donation “of $ 40,” authorities said.

Uniformed deputies then entered and issued tickets for state and city violations, Sheriff Joseph Fucito said in a statement. The bar was again seen open on Friday evening, although no arrests were made.

But law enforcement observed similar behavior once again on Saturday night – with customers being escorted through vacant commercial space, then a back door, and being served food and drinks in exchange for a “Don”.

“We have refused to abide by the rules and regulations put forward by the Mayor of New York and the Governor of New York State,” MAC’s Public House said.

The bar’s decision to continue serving food and drink indoors resulted in a restraining order and a fine of $ 1,000 each day. The bar’s liquor license was also suspended.

“If you want to let the big companies do it, you should have found a way to allow the small companies to do it too,” McAlarney said previously, adding that he was not against the mask mandate or physical distancing. but that the government needed to help struggling business owners.

McAlarney called the support they received “overwhelming” and sent a message to those who think the bar is reckless in taking the stand.

“If you feel, and you’ve done your research, and you think this is something that could end up causing illness for a member of your family – they choose to stay home,” Mcalarney said. “I’m not trying to trivialize anyone who has to go through this. Believe me I wouldn’t do that. I’m a very nice person, I would give the shirt off my back to help anyone. But in America, everyone world has a choice about how they end up wanting to live their lives. “



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