Loveville, MD — The Alcohol Beverage Board of St. Mary’s County has taken the unusual action of revoking one of their licenses. The board (also known as the liquor board) on Thursday revoked the license of Loveville Tavern after an incident outside the tavern in the early morning hours of August 23rd in which numerous gunshots were fired and a woman was hit by a car.
Licensees Rochelle Jackson and Elbon Price, Jr. appeared before the board at a hearing on September 11. They appeared without a lawyer. Board Chairman Moses Saldana warned them of the potential consequences of the charges against them. Jackson said she didn’t realize that they needed a lawyer, but after hearing Saldana said they would like to have one.
The board then voted unanimously to proceed with the charges since the licensees had plenty of time to get an attorney and since six witnesses were in the audience waiting to testify.
Jackson then admitted to the three alleged violations: customers remaining on the premises after closing; disturbance of the neighborhood with excessive noise, and acts “violating the peace and safety of the community.”
With the admission of the violations the board was left with nothing to do but hear a recitation of the facts from the board’s attorney and then impose penalties.
Board attorney James Tanavage reported that the Maryland State Police were summoned on August 23rd for a report of a pedestrian struck on Route 5 in front of the tavern. When the trooper arrived she found an unruly crowd gathered outside the tavern, dozens of cars parked along the road and heard four shots being fired. The trooper called for backup.
Tanavage said there were numerous fights going on and the situation was “very chaotic.” He said the police officers received little cooperation from the bar’s security during the incident. The officers found .45 caliber shells in the roadway.
Tanavage reported that a neighbor went outside to lock his garage and found a glass pain shattered by gunshot. The house faces the tavern.
The board attorney said if the board’s Alcohol Control Officer Cpl. James Stone of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office had testified he would have said that police are called repeatedly to the tavern for incidents. He would have testified that he had given the licensees advice but they had not heeded it.
Tanavage said Stone believes the situation with Loveville Tavern “creates a danger to the peace and safety of the community.”
The liquor board easily agreed to two $500 fines for the two lesser charges. Those fines included $250 each for suspended fines in a separate violation from May of last year.
The board had some disagreement over the fine for the third and most serious charge. Board Vice President Linda Palchinsky made a motion for a 90-day suspension and board member Betty Currie moved for a 60-day suspension. Both motions failed.
The motion from Saldana to revoke the license then passed on a 3-2 vote. The revocation was effective immediately.
The licensees have 30 days to appeal the decision to St. Mary’s County Circuit Court.