Bars cited for serving teen informant beer

News-Times reporter

Five Amherst bars and their bartenders were cited for providing alcohol to an underage informant working for the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) on Friday, Jan. 22.

Two undercover agents, who were assisted by the Amherst Police Department, had an 18-year-old male walk in to Park Lanes Bowling & Lounge, 249 Park Ave., which is owned and operated by Ward Three councilman Joe Gambish.

Around 10:15 p.m., the informant -- who was wearing a hidden microphone -- approached 26-year-old Megan Elwell, of Amherst, and asked to purchase a Bud Light. Elwell complied without asking for his identification.

Nearly an hour later, officer Eugene Ptacek cited Elwell for sales to underage persons. Undercover agents also issued Gambish a civil citation to appear before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission.

"They told us we had furnished alcohol to a minor," he said. "At that time I requested to see the minor or the ID. At that time, they said there was a agent present who witnessed it and I said could I see the agent, the ID or the minor and they wouldn't produce any of the three."

Elwell's arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 10 in Oberlin Municipal, where she is expected to enter a not guilty plea.

Gambish on the other hand, will be traveling down to Columbus to appeal his citation issued by ODPS agents before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission. As far as he's concerned, all of the evidence against him is circumstantial.

"My bartender has been bartending for years and I've never had a problem," Gambish said. She is still employed by Park Lanes, Inc. as a bartender. "I've never been cited before through Park Lanes which has been in existence for four years or when I've had Joe's Brew House, which I had for almost three years. I've never been cited there either. If they would have shown me the person, I would tell you yes, I did."

The pair will be represented by attorney Anthony Giardini.

From there, agents had their 18-year-old male enter Church Street Bar & Grill, 300 Church St., and ask the bartender on duty that night, identified as 27-year-old Mary Kinsley, of Amherst, for a Bud Light.

When Kinsley complied without asking for his identification, she was cited by officer Jacob Perez for furnishing beer to a person under 21 years of age and sales to underage persons.

The bar -- owned and operated by 300 Church Street, Inc. -- was issued a civil citation by the ODPS. It is now up to the Ohio Liquor Control Commission to decide what effect, if any, this will have on the establishment's liquor license.

While Chuck Johnson, the general manager of Church Street Bar & Grill, condones Kinsley's actions, he said the restaurant has had a good track record in the past regarding his employees checking IDs before serving bar patrons alcohol.

"We are diligent on an ongoing basis as far as underage sales to minors, and our doorman did his best to circumvent all of the things we have in place," Johnson said. "Ultimately it is our responsibility to not serve underage persons and we take responsibility for that."

Kinsley's arraignment in Oberlin Municipal Court is also scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 10.

Even though Kinsley is still employed with the restaurant, Johnson is taking a wait-and-see attitude to see how the entire case plays out in court before making a final decision.

"We just had a employee meeting reemphasizing the needs to be diligent about checking IDs," he said.

The third bar to be cited by ODPS agents was The Captains Club, located at 232 Park Avenue.

Around 10:25 p.m., the 18-year-old male informant entered the bar and ordered a Bud Light from owner, identified as 53-year-old Mary Bockey, of Amherst, who was also bartending that evening. Once the undercover agent witnessed the male receive the bottle of beer without Bockey asking for identification, is when officers stepped in.

Perez cited Bockey for furnishing beer to a person under 21 years of age and sales to underage persons. The agent also issued a civil citation to Bockey Enterprises, LLC, doing business as The Captains Club.

"I have no comment at this time," Bockey said before hanging up the phone.

The ODPS obtained information about the bar's liquor license. A final decision regarding a punishment for the business will come from the Ohio Liquor Control Commission.

The undercover agents, accompanied by the underage informant also hit Cedar Pub, 200 Park Ave.

Around 10:40 p.m., the agent entered the bar a few minutes before the 18-year-old male did. As he approached the bar, he asked 42-year-old Constance Captain, of Lorain, for a Bud Light. Without checking his identification, the bartender handed him the bottle of alcohol.

While the bar's owners, Amherst Pub Inc., were issued a civil citation from ODPS, Captain was issued a citation from Ptacek for furnishing beer to a person under 21 years of age and sales to underage persons. She is due in Oberlin Municipal Court on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

An unidentified male who answered the telephone would not comment about the incident. It is unclear if Captain is still employed at the bar.

Finally, the trio paid a visit to The Pour House Bar, located at 134 Park Ave., around 11 p.m.

Again, the 18-year-old informant went inside and asked for a bottle of Bud Light. The bartender, identified as 29-year-old Kristin M. Kolcun, of Amherst, provided the underage male with a bottle of beer.

After the undercover agent witnessed this, Perez issue her a citation for furnishing beer to a person under 21 and sales to underage persons. She will also appear in Oberlin Municipal Court on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

The bar's owner -- George Kolcun of Amherst-based Grade K Entertainment, Inc. who is also Kristin's father-in-law -- was issued a civil citation. He will have to appear in front of the Ohio Liquor Control Commission to find out exactly what his punishment will be.

"We try to be very, very careful about underage drinking," Kolcun said. "On busy nights, we make sure we have someone checking IDs at the front and back doors. We've been doing this all along because we knew there was a lot of underage drinking going on in Amherst and we were trying to keep them out of the place."

Kolcun has no idea how the 18-year-old male was able to bypass ID checkers manning the two entrances to the bar. He is now thinking about stamping the hands of bar patrons who walk through the doors as a way of letting his bartenders know they are of legal age to consume alcoholic beverages.

"The idea of having people at the door checking IDs is so the bartenders can do their bartending and not have to check everybody because it's busy," Kolcun said.

She is still employed at the bar and is described by the owner as a wreck since the incident happened nearly a week ago.

According to Julie Hinds, the public information officer for the Ohio Investigative Unit, these agents go to bars and restaurants all over the state after receiving calls from patrons who believe they are selling alcohol to underage individuals.

"If we need to take action, we will," Hinds said.

To report a violator anonymously, call 1-877-464-6677 or visit the ODPS's website at www.publicsafety.ohio.gov.