Fetched: December 31st, 2008, 7:00am EST
An attempt to fight accusations of serving alcohol to a minor over the summer were unsuccessful for the owner of the Black Spot Café this week.
Micah Power told the licensing authority Monday that he never presented the bottle of Bud Light to the undercover officer on July 26.
The Black Spot Café was one of 22 establishments busted in the announced sting.
“I knew something was going on as soon as they walked in,” said Power, owner and manager of the bar. “They were either going to steal my guitars that are on the back wall or they were going to try and purchase alcohol,” he said.
Power told the board members he walked to the end of the bar to wipe it down and keep an eye on the two suspicious individuals that he said he later identified as cops because of how the officer stared at him and exuded confidence when requesting the beer.
Power said he was being “brazen and cocky” when he actually opened the beer and placed it in a spot that was out of reach for the undercover officer, who then reached across the bar and grabbed it before he had the opportunity to card the individual.
A witness, Peter Kenney of West Yarmouth, explained what he saw that evening.
“The beer was never presented to this officer. It was placed well out of reach of anyone standing at the service side of the bar,” Kenney said.
“Did he ask for a beer? Yes. Was he served a beer? No,” said Kenney.
Licensing authority member Paul Sullivan questioned Power’s judgment.
“Is it your normal procedure when you serve a drink to someone to open the bottle of beer prior to asking for identification,” Sullivan asked.
Power said he treated the situation differently because he knew they were police officers.
“I had knowledge that they were police officers from their actions. In fact, I laughed at them from behind the pillar. I take this seriously, but it was laughable how poorly it was executed,” Power said.
The board also noted Power did not attend the two information sessions earlier in the spring to update licensee holders on sting guidelines.
“What I did instead was I went to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission Web site and read the general rules. I learned on my own. I’m a geek. I do that,” Power said.
Ultimately, the board decided to give the same punishment to the Black Spot Café as the rest of the offenders in the summer sting.
The establishment received a two-day suspension with one on July 26 and one to be held in abeyance for future violations.
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