Story Created:
Oct 24, 2009 at 4:26 PM EST
Story Updated:
Oct 25, 2009 at 1:12 PM EST
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The two owners of Pistol Pete's bar have been arrested and are facing multiple charges after police discovered an underage party with 100 youths at the business. Police contend that alcohol and marijuana were present on the premises.
46-year-old Stephen Patterson and 43-year-old Willie Walker, both of Utica, are the co-owners of the bar, according to Utica Police Chief Dan La Bella. Pistol Pete's is located at the corner of Nicholas Street and Jay Street in East Utica.
Utica Police say they responded to Pistol Pete's early Saturday morning on a complaint of loud noise. Police say that they discovered a disorderly group. While investigating the situation, officers witnessed a minor fall down a flight of stairs.
As the officers attempted to help the person, Patterson interfered and tried to stop the police from helping. This directly led to his arrest. After a sobriety test was conducted, it was determined that the minor who had fallen was under the influence of alcohol.
Police officials say that an admission charge was being charged to get into the underage party at the bar. Police say they found alcohol and marijuana for consumption by the minors. At least 100 kids were reportedly in attendance.
Patterson was charged with obstructing governmental administration, unlawfully dealing with a child, endangering the welfare of a child, consumption on premise without license, criminal nuisance, harassment, cabaret and general noise prohibited.
Walker is charged with unlawfully dealing with a child, consumption on premise without license, criminal nuisance, cabaret and general noise prohibited.
Patterson called NEWSChannel 2 and responded to the arrest by saying, "I got to the building to close it down at 12:30. I was arrested at 12:40. All I did was go in and cut the lights. I will be vindicated of all of these charges. I never sold alcohol to a minor."
Investigation continuing
The Utica Police Department consider Pistol Pete's bar a "hot spot" in the city. Officers have responded to almost 200 calls for service in the area since the beginning of 2009.
The investigation is continuing and police urge parents with more information to call UPD at 315-735-3301.
Chief La Bella said Saturday that any business in the City of Utica that hams children by providing them with or allowing them to consume alcohol will not be tolerated. He says the UPD will be "vigilant in monitoring and prosecution of these establishments."
Patterson's previous battle with the City of Utica
This is not the first time Stephen Patterson has battled the City of Utica. He was fired from his position as the city's commission of the Department of Public Works in the late 1990s. He had worked under both the Hanna and Julian administrations.
A year after his firing, Patterson filed a lawsuit against the city claiming the administrations violated his constitutional due process rights. Leon Koziol, Patterson's attorney, claimed that his client lost up to $3 million in wages, reputation and suffered emotionally, physically and financially because of his termination.
Patterson was first awarded $330,000 in June 2004. That was eventually reversed because he could not prove that he suffered loss of reputation under former Mayor Hanna.
The second court of appeals found that while Hanna was not liable for discrimination against Patterson, the Mayor Julian administration was. On August 20, 2004, Patterson was awarded $225,000 in the City of Utica's second largest civil rights judgment.
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