By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.—On a split 4-1 vote, the Paris Alcohol Beverage Control board gave RJ’s Lounge a choice of a seven-day suspension or $500 fine at Thursday evening’s beer regulation violation hearing for allowing at least nine patrons to remain on the premises after 3 a.m. with the door locked.
Paris Police Lt. Ean Reed testified that officers routinely check local bars at 3 a.m. to ensure they are closed and in compliance with the city’s regulations. He said there was a similar incident two weeks prior to the cited violation in which he found RJ’s still open after 3 a.m. and he gave Bartender Brandon Melton a verbal warning and made the patrons leave. On that occasion, Reed said, there were open containers of beer.
Two weeks after that, he said, he found the bar open around 3:09 a.m. and “nine people lined up at the bar. The door was locked. I rapped on the door with my flashlight and was admitted into the bar.” On that occasion, he said, he did not observe any open beer bottles.
On the second occasion, he said, he Issued a citation.
Owner Ron Johnson of Paris said he’s operated RJ’s for 28 years “and I feel as though I should have the right to secure my monies, restock and somewhat clean my establishment for the next day.” He said that other officers “have been by but have never stopped. Never known other officers to do that. We are most likely guilty but eight minutes?” He did commend Lt. Reed for “doing your duty.”
Johnson also said he pays taxes and “I should be able to go in there any time I want. I think some of you need to make amendments on some of your laws.”
Johnson said since the citation, the bar has ‘last call’ at 2:20 a.m. He also said he was not aware that Lt. Reed had issued a warning to Melton about the same situation two weeks before.
Board Chair Ricky Searcy said, “You should have enough time between 2 and 3 a.m. to get ready for the next day” and City Attorney Fred McLean said, “Nine people don’t need to be in there when you’re counting money.”
Board Member James Smith said, “What’s bothering me is that the officer was lenient enough to offer a verbal warning and that warning was disregarded.”
Searcy told Johnson, “Your problem is miscommunication between you and your bartender not a problem with our rules.”
When it came time to decide on a penalty, Searcy said he was inclined to give RJ’s a warning, but the other members were not so inclined. Board Member Jeremy Owen said, “I didn’t hear a lot of contrition there.”
On Searcy’s motion to offer a warning, Searcy was the only member voting yes.
A second motion by Smith to set down either a seven-day suspension or a $500 fine was approved with Smith, Owen and Olivia Rice voting yes and Searcy the lone one voting no.
–Earlier in the meeting the board issued a 14-day suspension or $500 fine against the Smoke Shack for selling beer to a minor.
Henry County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jamie Myrick said the department was conducting an undercover operation at local stores, as they do periodically. An undercover operative who is over the age of 18 but under the age of 21 was able to purchase beer at the Smoke Shack.
Owner Ron Meness told board members the clerk on duty that night is no longer in their employ and that “We have a very strict policy not to sell to minors. Our employees sign a paper before they even come to work with us about that.” Since the violation, the store has changed its rules, he said. “We now have a rule that no one is even allowed to come in the store unless they 21 years old.”
In other business, the board issued a beer permit for Regina Spicer, owner of The Bowling Alley at 1118 N. Market St.
Photo: Sheriff’s Sgt. Jamie Myrick reports to the board on one of the violations heard Thursday night. (Shannon McFarlin photo).