Left to right, Cody J. Pollitt, William Scott Grantham and Nicholas Dyer
Prince Frederick, MD – Three arrests for disorderly conduct during the early morning hours of Thanksgiving Day outside one of the largest restaurant/bar operations in the county prompted the Calvert Board of License Commissioners (Liquor Board) to request a meeting with the licensee. Steve Cooper, licensee of the Prince Frederick Greene Turtle met with the board during their Jan. 26 meeting.
On Nov. 24, three men were arrested on disorderly conduct charges in three separate incidents that happened outside the Greene Turtle in the Prince Frederick Shopping Center parking lot. The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office identified the men as Cody J. Pollitt, 24 of Prince Frederick; William Scott Grantham, 29 of Prince Frederick; and Nicolas Dyer, 24 of Lusby. Sheriff’s office reports alleged that Pollitt was screaming and cursing at people near the Greene Turtle. Pollitt would not cooperate when asked to leave the area and was then arrested. Police were called to the business around 1 a.m. for the report of a fight in progress outside. Grantham was alleged to be cursing and also refused to leave when asked to do so. More deputies were subsequently dispatched to the scene due to “multiple disorderly subjects,” a police report stated. Dyer was allegedly “cursing and involved in a physical confrontation with another man in the parking lot.” After being charged with disorderly conduct, Dyer was taken to the Calvert County Detention Center where a search of his person yielded a quantity of cocaine. He was additionally charged with possession/receiving controlled dangerous substance while confined.
Cooper told the Liquor Board that on Friday and Saturday nights the restaurant/bar has two security people on duty and hires more for special events. The security team often includes off-duty deputies. Cooper added the Greene Turtle’s staff does identification checks with a card swipe. Of the Thanksgiving mayhem, Cooper declared the incident “wasn’t really a fight. There was no fight inside.” He added that one of the men who was later charged with disorderly conduct had been asked to leave the bar because “he got very belligerent with bartenders and customers.” The ejected customer remains barred from the local Greene Turtle, Cooper stated.
The Liquor Board’s inspector, Sgt. Joe Hollinger of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office told Cooper that police can issue a ‘no trespass order’ for any barred customers.
The discussion did not result in any action taken against the licensee.
License transfer approved
The Calvert Liquor Board approved the request for transferring the Class A, Off Sale Beer, Wine and Liquor license requested by Yi Eric Zheng, soon to become the owner and operator of Lusby Liquors. Zheng—who was represented by St. Mary’s County attorney Mike Davis—told the board that he was from China, has lived in the United States for 20 years and is now a U.S. citizen. He has been learning the liquor business from his uncle, the Lusby store’s current owner, for the past three months. Zheng stated that he had been in the restaurant business in Texas before moving to Lusby.
Liquor Board Chairman Robert Arscott asked Zheng if he was “going to know all the things that inspectors will be looking for.” Zheng affirmed that he would know. Arscott reminded him that the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office had cadets who would test the store’s compliance with liquor laws by attempting to purchase alcohol despite being under age. Board Alternate Jack Smack recommended the new storeowner consider purchasing some identification technology for his business.
“Everybody needs to be certified,” said Board Member Beth Swoap. Zheng assured the board he, along with his wife and father—would be certified when the transfer occurs. Swoap recommended to Zheng that he look into the Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse’s alcohol awareness classes.
The board approved Zheng’s license transfer request and waived the two year residency requirement.
“Thank you and thank you from my family, too,” said Zheng.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com