A New York City bar owner who defied coronavirus-related restrictions by hosting patrons indoors has been arrested after plainclothes officers went to his establishment and ordered food and beverages indoors.
The proprietor of Mac's Public House, Danny Presti, had declared that his bar and restaurant was an "autonomous zone." Demonstrators confronted police outside of Mac's Public House as deputies arrested Presti.
I’d be there if I was in NYC. Must WATCH. pic.twitter.com/xw4Ebnw3iP
— Chef Andrew Gruel (@ChefGruel) December 2, 2020
The bar was in an area of State Island designated "orange" by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, meaning that patrons are not allowed to be served indoors.
The owner of Mac's however, protested the decision by serving customers while declaring his restaurant an "autonomous zone," referencing the anarchist insurrection which took place in the Capitol Hill area of Seattle over the summer.
The bar was also subjected to thousands of dollars in fines, the Associated Press reported.
According to New York City Sheriff Joseph Fucito, officers dressed as civilians ordered drinks, after which uniformed deputies raided the bar and handed out tickets for violating lockdown orders.
Presti, 34, was charged with providing unauthorized food and beverage services as well as with obstruction of governmental administration for being uncooperative with police.
"These sheriff's officers are 'wannabe' cops. This is what happens when little people get a little power," said Mark Fonte, an attorney representing the bar.
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