Police in New York City have arrested the co-owner of a Staten Island bar that has flouted coronavirus restrictions after hitting an officer with his vehicle while attempting to evade arrest, authorities said.
The New York City Sheriff’s Office said officers early Sunday attempted to arrest Danny Presti, 34, who co-owns Mac’s Public House, after watching patrons sneak into the bar through an empty commercial facility next door in spite of coronavirus restrictions against in-door dining.
Once being confronted by police, Presti fled on foot to his vehicle. On trying to drive away, he hit a deputy, who then held onto the vehicle’s hood as the car drove, authorities said, adding the officer suffered broken legs in the incident.
Authorities accuse Presti of hitting the officer “intentionally and with depraved indifference to human life.”
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According to court documents, Presti drove with the officer “on the hood of the motor vehicle down South Railroad Avenue, turned left onto Lincoln Avenue and made another left onto North Railroad before being stopped by a sheriff’s motor vehicle.”
Presti had been arrested last week for keeping the bar open despite coronavirus restrictions, which brought hundreds to the establishment in protest. The New York State Liquor Authority also suspended its liquor license after finding it allowed customers inside.
Previous Story: Staten Island Bar Owner Taken Away In Handcuffs For Covid Edict Violations
Mac’s Public House said on Facebook in November it was “an autonomous zone” and that its owners “refuse to abide by any rules and regulations put forth by the mayor of NYC and governor of NY state.”
On Sunday, the bar defended Presti, stating he was arrested after it had closed while he was attempting to get into his car.
“He just finished working an 18-hour day to provide for his family and save our establishment!!!” it said on Facebook.
Bill Neidhardt, press secretary for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, said Sunday that Presti’s actions “made it crystal clear” what type of person he is.
“Whether it’s flouting public health laws or ramming a car into a deputy, this guy clearly has no regard for the lives of others,” Neidhardt said in a statement. “That’s what it comes down to.”
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Sheriff’s should not be enforcing comrade D blasio’s unconstitutional orders. They should have just left the guy alone but instead had to put themselves into harms way to prove that the gun on their hip gives them power over the rest of us.
BUT they fact, they ARE enforcing them, PUTS THEM CLEARLY in the same traitor camp, as deblasio is.. I’ve lost all respect i had for the NYPD.
The sheriffs are not part of NYPD. Notice it was the sheriffs, not the police, who are enforcing DeB’s illegal orders.
According to Presti, who was on Tucker, the police detectives were in black and never identified themselves as police officers. The officers just yelled out Presti’s name. These articles should present both sides of the story, not just De Blasio’s side.
It seems stupid to stand in front of the car of a guy you’re trying to arrest. I have a hard time believing that cops are trained to do that.
I was surprised a few weeks ago when I found out NYC has a sheriff. Then I heard that his department is the political payback force at the disposal of di Blasio. NYPD doesn’t think much of the mayor but the sheriff will do his dirty work. True? I don’t know but this action seems to support those claims.
It is time US citizens stand up for their rights. It is time for the Sheriff’s office to protect citizens based on the US Constitution not based upon some defacto overlord Deblasio who in fact should be arrested for high crimes against the citizens of New York City.
AND if the sheriff’s don’t. THEN THEY become the enemy.
It is NY! don’t believe the story about the broken legs unitil lots of proof . Not just an ex ray of John Doe. Government in NY is less credibilitable than Charles Manson or Kim Jong Yun.
deblasio is not one to believe! He is the last to believe.
Finally, an American hero who fights back
Taking people’s livelihood without just compensation is criminal and anyone who enforces such a thing is not protected by the law and you have a right to defend yourself by any and all means possible.
If this sounds alien to you, you have consumed too much liberal garbage and are part of the problem
NOT Only should it be criminal, but EVERY MAYOR and governor, who PUSHES these lockdowns that cause folk to lose their jobs/business or homes, SHOULD PERMANENTLY lose their freedom.
Seems to me “with depraved indifference to human life” describes what the lockdown artists and riot supporters in governors’ and mayors’ offices have been doing to their citizens all year.
AND every judge who has upheld these illegal and unconstitutional laws, edicts and such, should get treated by their same level of “indifference to human life”.