Sheriffs bust defiant NYC bar in COVID-19 hotspot
City sheriffs on Tuesday night shut down a Staten Island bar that declared itself an “autonomous zone” and continued to serve indoor customers in defiance of COVID-19 restrictions.
The raid at Mac’s Public House also resulted in the arrest of its co-owner, Danny Presti, who was not cooperative as officers issued the pub several violations for flouting city and state health orders, sources said.
Dozens of angry supporters of the bar descended on the establishment as officers with the New York City Sheriff’s Department executed their order.
“Free Keith McAnerney now,” the crowd chanted, referring to the bar’s other owner — though it did not appear he was there at the time.
The angry crowd also yelled, “We’re going to defund the sheriffs!” and vented about Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Presti’s lawyer, Lou Gelormino, told The Post the situation started out calmly, but culminated with three summonses.
“They [sheriff’s officers] were respectful and we were very respectful, and I intervened and inside we were going to be cooperative,” Gelormino said.
“Then 10 minutes later outside, I started filming and that’s when they asked me for my ID, and they gave me three summonses as his attorney.”
Presti is expected to be released from the sheriff’s office with a desk appearance ticket, sources said. It’s unclear what charges he faces.
State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) showed up to the pub Tuesday night, trying to calm its agitated supporters while seeking answers from authorities.
“This order simply says that they need to cease and desist,” Lanza said. “Nowhere here is there an arrest warrant and nowhere here is anything about arresting anyone on their private property.”
Mac’s Public House, in a state-designated coronavirus hot spot, has garnered headlines for refusing to stop indoor service as dictated by restrictions that went into effect last Wednesday.
The bar had declared itself an “autonomous zone,” taking a page from anti-cop protesters in Seattle, Wash., who took over a section of that city in June.
The establishment has also been slapped with thousands of dollars in fines and had its state liquor license yanked.