Danny Presti, who operates Mac's Public House on Staten Island in New York City, has been arrested again after refusing to shut down his business.
The arrest came on Saturday night, after New York Sheriff's Deputies saw customers going into Mac's through the back entrance. They observed food and beverages being served to willing customers, who were not wearing face masks, reported local news, NY1.
When Presti left for the night, after 12 am, Sheriff's Deputies attempted to arrest him, at which point he resisted. They issued him a summons, one of many that have been piling up, for violations of the governor's emergency order restrictions to shutter businesses and force them out of business if they cannot financially withstand the closures.
While resisting arrest, Presti got into his car and attempted to drive off, whereupon he hit an officer with his car. He was stopped approximately 100 yards later, was arrested, and taken to the 122nd Precinct. The officer was taken to a local hospital and his condition this morning is unknown.
"We are currently interviewing eyewitnesses who contradict the Sheriff’s version of the events," said Presti's lawyer Mark Fonte. "We also possess video footage of the incident. I expect Danny to be arraigned this morning. We anticipated the bumbling Sheriffs to pull a stunt like this so we had Danny under surveillance the whole time. More details to follow."
Presti had declared his bar and restaurant an "autonomous zone," and refused to adhere to the coronavirus-inspired restrictions of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. These restrictions said that bars and restaurants have to close at 10 pm, and allows them to be open to in-person dining based on the case count in a given zip code.
On Monday, police arrested Presti at his establishment for the crime of operating his business. The arrest came after plainclothes officers from the New York City Sheriff's department entered the bar and ordered food.
Deputies in uniform then came in and distributed tickets. Presti was arrested for obstruction of governmental administration, and for charges associated with serving food and beverages, which was "unauthorized."
On Tuesday, Staten Islanders turned out to support Presti. Presti and Fonte explained the injustices he believed have been enacted upon New Yorkers. His bar has racked up thousands in fines as it refused to close either to indoor dining or for the 10 pm nightly curfew.
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