2008 Woodie Awards
Smitty Arrested Puts Up Fight Over Age Limits at Warehouse
Andrea Bartlow: Muleskinner
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: News
Chris Smith, owner of Pine Street bars The Warehouse, Club Blue and Smitty's, is due in court April 15 to face charges stemming from a March 17 minor in possession violation at The Warehouse.
Warrensburg police officer Trent Froebe detained a minor in possession of an alcoholic beverage inside The Warehouse that night, and upon bringing the matter to Smith's attention, said he received no cooperation from the club owner.
According to the police report, Smith was despondent and argumentative with Froebe, immediately telling him that he "had spoken to Carl Larkerbrink and Doug Harris, who had told him he no longer had an age restriction at his bar."
Froebe said Smith continued to berate him and became so loud, he caused a disturbance, so he was arrested. As he was being handcuffed, Smith demanded, "Get these [expletive] handcuffs off me!"
Smith was booked at the Johnson County Jail and was released after posting bail, with a court summons for April 15 at 1:30 p.m. at the Circuit Court.
The events of St. Patrick's night mark just one of the latest incidents in a series of legal headaches for Smith and his business partners, including Bob Cochran, since their liquor licenses were permanently revoked in early February.
Now, the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (MDATC) is charging Smith with two counts of falsely renewing a liquor license application and refusing the inspection of his businesses' records.
Joe Hodgin, district supervisor for MDATC, said Smith transferred the ownership of Smitty's to a family member in order to retain the establishment's liquor license. Under the state's liquor license regulations, that is illegal and once a person or business loses its license, no one in that person's family can take over the business and reapply for it.
"Smith failed to report the change of act and passed the ownership of Smitty's to a relative of his wife," Hodgin said.
Cadillac Ranch, managed by Cliff Gower, has Smith as one of the owners of its liquor license, so it facing revocation, too, Hodgin said.
Warrensburg police officer Trent Froebe detained a minor in possession of an alcoholic beverage inside The Warehouse that night, and upon bringing the matter to Smith's attention, said he received no cooperation from the club owner.
According to the police report, Smith was despondent and argumentative with Froebe, immediately telling him that he "had spoken to Carl Larkerbrink and Doug Harris, who had told him he no longer had an age restriction at his bar."
Froebe said Smith continued to berate him and became so loud, he caused a disturbance, so he was arrested. As he was being handcuffed, Smith demanded, "Get these [expletive] handcuffs off me!"
Smith was booked at the Johnson County Jail and was released after posting bail, with a court summons for April 15 at 1:30 p.m. at the Circuit Court.
The events of St. Patrick's night mark just one of the latest incidents in a series of legal headaches for Smith and his business partners, including Bob Cochran, since their liquor licenses were permanently revoked in early February.
Now, the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (MDATC) is charging Smith with two counts of falsely renewing a liquor license application and refusing the inspection of his businesses' records.
Joe Hodgin, district supervisor for MDATC, said Smith transferred the ownership of Smitty's to a family member in order to retain the establishment's liquor license. Under the state's liquor license regulations, that is illegal and once a person or business loses its license, no one in that person's family can take over the business and reapply for it.
"Smith failed to report the change of act and passed the ownership of Smitty's to a relative of his wife," Hodgin said.
Cadillac Ranch, managed by Cliff Gower, has Smith as one of the owners of its liquor license, so it facing revocation, too, Hodgin said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
D. Hrevus
posted 4/10/08 @ 6:26 PM CST
What do you expect from a college town?
Erik Anthes
posted 4/13/08 @ 5:07 PM CST
Finally, the legal issues are being focused on the proper person. Convict Smitty.
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