Posted on 01/26/2009 7:27:09 PM PST by MplsSteve
One night last August, someone called the St. Paul police and told them to get to the Pub East bar right away - the bartender’s outside firing a shotgun.
When the cops arrived at 1180 East Seventh, the shooting was done and the pistol-grip shotgun was on a cabinet in the kitchen. On the way to jail, the bartender, Ronnie Eugene Stafford, well-liquored himself, had this to say.
“I did what I had to do,” the bartender reportedly told the police. “I had to get ‘em out of the bar.”
The city’s report doesn’t make clear to whom the bartender (breathalyzer score more than twice the legal limit for driving) was referring. But I presume that saloonkeepers sometimes feel that they need to let loose with both barrels to disperse the rowdies.
Nevertheless, such behavior is frowned upon in St. Paul. Stafford spent two days in jail, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor discharge of a firearm and got a sentence of probation, with orders to forfeit his weapon.
Earlier this month, the bar paid a $700 fine. Any future efforts at armed crowd control will be dealt with more harshly.
Stafford has gone on sabbatical since the event. Still, Pub East owner Cynthia Trumble told me that she may hire him back.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs2.startribune.com ...
I know this area. It's a combo neighborhood that attracts both blue collar bad-asses as well as some ornery black guys.
Comments or opinions - anyone?
I’m guessing that did not occur during “Happy Hour.”
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Sounds like it could be a violation of the Minnesota Liquor Code.
Would not be suprised if bartenders getting loaded and using a shotgun to disperse crowds is frowned upon in the regulations.
Was it closing time?
How many rounds did he have to fire before you finally left?
LOL!
I know where this bar is but I don’t think I’d ever step foot in it - unless I was having a drink with Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
Obama’s fault
Obviously there’s a new sheriff in town.
It was reported as a pistol grip shotgun. Possibly a problem...
But, the “reporter” weighs in with...”The city’s report doesn’t make clear to whom the bartender (breathalyzer score more than twice the legal limit for driving) was referring. But I presume that saloonkeepers sometimes feel that they need to let loose with both barrels to disperse the rowdies.”
The “reporter” has now infered that this was a double-barreled shotgun. I know, you and I know what is going on, here. But, the damage has already been done amongst the sheep that read this rag and over-react to media-manufactured crime stories.......
Any bartender that gets drunk at his own bar is a fool.
You said — “Comments or opinions - anyone?”
Yeah, he probably needed to unload both barrels to get them outta there... LOL..
that barman should have been at the DNC 2008 scatterin’ those ‘rats
Waste of ammo...next time he should just use the stock of the shotgun to apply a mahogany rub to their heads.
Rank State $ # percapita
40 Minnesota 155.00 8 19.38 (plus 6 monthly.)
Looks like about 108 need a ping for something else.
Make that 107!
The check is (or will be today) in the mail.
Thanks for the reminder...
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