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Danny Presti, co-owner of Mac’s Public House ub in Staten Island, NY was arrested for “criminal trespassing” and disregarding strict COVID mandates, according to The Daily Wire.
Mac’s Public House is in a designated, “orange zone” which condemns the pub to be close without compensation.
Irene Spezzamonte said, “Although it was given away for free to patrons, the law does not permit service during the pandemic, per Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s mandate.”
“This order simply says that they need to cease and desist. Nowhere here is there an arrest warrant, nowhere here is anything about arresting anyone on their private property. So I’ll ask, [and] you don’t have to answer … why was he arrested? I was told you would tell me why he was arrested and now I’m asking for that answer.”
“So I see that you have the power to arrest people who are sitting in their own establishment, on private property,’’ Lanza continued. “Stick around. Here on Staten Island, we like law and order, but what I just saw here … it really deserves an explanation. Because it really confounds all of us here. … I can tell you, as an attorney, this piece of paper did not authorize what you did here.”
“At some point somebody’s gonna to have to answer for what happened here, because this is wrong.”
Lou Gelormino, Presti’s attorney said his client is “on his way to the Sheriff’s Office right now, where, they assured me … they’re gonna issue him a desk-appearance ticket and release him, for criminal trespass because he wouldn’t leave his own establishment.”
“From what I understand, [Presti’s] arrested because he didn’t want to leave [his business], and at that point … they considered it trespassing. I’d like to know why his attorney got three summonses for just being there and being peaceful and respectful and calm, and every one of these officers can attest to that.”
Mark Fonte said, “We urge our friends in the restaurant industry to be as resilient as possible while we appeal this decision.”
“These sheriff’s officers are ‘wannabe’ cops. This is what happens when little people get a little power. Each one of them will have to answer to a federal judge. The issuing of summonses to an attorney for representing his client will not be dealt with lightly. I would advise the issuing sheriff to lawyer up immediately.”
From The Daily Wire:
Presti was taken away in handcuffs, and numerous cops stayed outside the tavern to block the entrance. A crowd of supporters quickly formed outside Mac’s, including State Sen. Andrew J. Lanza.
The Republican representative repeatedly asked the officers on scene why Presti was arrested, noting that the order only states that the business owners must “cease and desist.”
Gelormino was inside Mac’s when officers handed out summonses, reported Spezzamonte. The attorney said he received a summons himself for $5,000; he was apparently “deemed an employee of the business” when sheriffs were on scene.
