The manager of a bar in Staten Island (New York, United States) has been arrested for run over a policeman who followed him to his vehicle to fine him for violating the measures against covid-19 after declaring its establishment an “autonomous zone”, local media reported this Sunday.
Mac’s Public House bar had been fined $ 50,000 and forced to close this week, in addition to losing its alcohol sales licensel for defying state-imposed regulations in his area to try to control the spike in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.
The New York sheriff’s office observed several customers entering the bar this Saturday night through an empty commercial space next door and deployed several agents to arrest his manager, Daniel Presti, 34, who was already arrested last Tuesday.
But when the agents identified themselves to Presti, he escaped to his vehicle and drove against one of them, who grabbed onto the hood and was dragged injured about 90 meters, according to local channel NBC.
Agents were eventually able to stop the manager and take him into custody pending charges, while the wounded officer was taken to a hospital without his condition being known yet.
Mac’s Public House is located in the town of Grant City, in the district of Staten Island, with the highest rebound of covid-19 in New York, and is part of an area declared “orange zone” by the governor, Andrew Cuomo, which implies the prohibition of serving inside bars and restaurants, among other things.
Last Tuesday, the authorities ordered its closure for rejecting anticovid-19 regulations, continuing to serve inside and even doing promotions, covering its windows with “autonomous zone” signs.
The next day, dozens of people gathered at its doors to protest the closure.
As its owner, Keith McAlarney, told ABC7 on Wednesday, the business decided to continue opening because it cannot afford another closure, criticizing the lack of financial aid and also the policy of imposing measures for “micro-areas” to alleviate the outbreaks.
“We’re just trying to make a living and feed our families. We’ve been through every hoop, done what they said. But at some point you just can’t keep closing,” he explained.
JLMR
– .
