On Oct. 13, the St. Mary’s County Alcohol Enforcement Coordinator, SDFC Emory Johnson of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and The St. Mary’s County Alcohol Board Inspector George Kelsey traveled to Coles Point, Virginia to conduct a routine Alcohol Enforcement Compliance Inspection of a St. Mary’s County business establishment.
Coles Point Tavern is located on a pier over the Potomac River and is considered a Maryland establishment and comes under the jurisdiction of the St. Mary’s County Alcoholic Beverages board. As a result of the inspection the establishment was cited for not having an updated health inspection certificate. While at the establishment Deputy Emory Johnson observed that the building appeared to be in a deteriorated, dangerous condition.
The manager at the establishment said that the condition of the building was the result of damage sustained during recent tropical storms.
On Oct. 18, Dep. Johnson returned to the establishment with Deputy Code Official Adam Knight of the St. Mary’s County Department of Land Use and Growth Management. Knight conducted an inspection of the building and upon finding several safety code violations deemed the building as unsafe for use as an alcohol establishment.
The building was posted with signs and the operator of the establishment was notified of the findings. To preserve the safety and health of the community the Coles Point Tavern Liquor License was taken from the business by SDFC Johnson and it was turned into the Alcoholic Beverages Board for St. Mary’s County pending repairs to the building and pier.
In addition the Westmoreland County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office was notified that the business was closed.