A downtown Shawano bar will have to close its doors for 10 days as punishment for an after-hours violation that resulted in two arrests.
After a hearing Friday, the Shawano Common Council imposed a 10-day suspension of the liquor license held by Wendy Warrington, owner of Slackers, 146 S. Main St.
Shawano police responded to a call that the bar was still open after 2:30 a.m. closing time Dec. 21.
Police first went to the bar at 2:38 a.m. Bartender Matthew Dodge said he had been trying to clear the last of the customers out, but some were refusing to leave, according to testimony at Friday’s hearing.
Several stragglers just inside the door were sent on their way and Dodge was warned there would be a citation if police had to return.
Police were called back to the bar about 10 minutes later, responding to a complaint that there were still people inside.
Police initially found the bar dark but the door open when they arrived. Two customers were found hiding behind the bar, where Dodge was cleaning up, and a woman was found hiding in the bathroom, according to police testimony.
Dodge said the woman came back in to use the bathroom and the two men ran into the bar to hide just as police pulled up.
One of the men was subsequently arrested for a probation violation and the woman for outstanding warrants.
Police Chief Mark Kohl testified the bar had numerous violations over the past year, but Warrington was apparently unaware of those.
The city’s Finance Committee on Dec. 8, acting on Kohl’s recommendation, voted to dismiss any violation points the bar had racked up from those previous incidents and start fresh now that Warrington had been informed of the problems.
The Dec. 21 incident alone, however, totaled more than enough violation points under city ordinances to consider either revocation or suspension of the bar’s liquor license.
Such action could be taken after 125 violation points.
The Dec. 21 incident totaled 175 points, including 50 for violating closing hours, 50 for a person being on the premises after closing hours, 50 for allowing disorderly conduct on the property and 25 for failure to light the premises.
Dodge conceded he should have called police in the first place when some customers refused to leave. He said he also neglected to lock the door after they finally did leave, which allowed them to come back in after police left the first time.
He said, however, the bar should not be punished for his mistake.
Kohl recommended to the council a 10-day suspension of the bar’s liquor license, as well as revocation of Dodge’s beverage license.
City Attorney Tim Schmid said, however, that Dodge’s license couldn’t be revoked without another hearing, and Kohl withdrew that recommendation.
After closed session discussion of the matter, the council voted to impose a 10-day suspension, effective Monday.
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