The owner of Lee’s Landing Dock Bar, a Maryland riverside restaurant in Port Deposit, could face up to a year behind bars after 15 police officers allegedly showed up at his business over too many customers. This was a violation against COVID-19 social distancing orders…supposedly. To the rest of us, it looks like a heinous crime against humanity.
On the afternoon of April 19, state troopers arrived at the restaurant after Sgt. S. Spayd told them that more than 70 motorcycles were in the parking lot. They had already issued a warning to Lee’s Landing a week prior due to reports of large numbers of patrons. There wasn’t a second warning.
Spayd notes that the restaurant thought it was okay to serve drinks at the bar and the dock bar while people waited for their takeout orders. Customers were lingering in the parking lot and around the establishment. Greg Shipley, Maryland State Police spokesman, tells the media that the Governor’s executive order and state of emergency were violated. Gov. Larry Hogan had ordered in February for all restaurants that can’t offer takeout or delivery to close. He also banned gatherings of 10 or more people in one place.
Lee’s Landing Dock Bar was selling ‘to go’ food and drink orders but some of that was being consumed on the premises. Dave Carey, the managing owner of Lee’s Landing, told the press that he was following Hogan’s distancing and crowd size orders “to the letter of the law” and is quite upset that 15 uniformed officers from four agencies showed up to his establishment Sunday.
In addition to state police, deputies from the County Sheriff’s Deputies, Maryland Transportation Authority officers, and Perryville police officers also arrived. Law enforcement arrived but, of course, the staffers were wearing masks and other protective equipment while taking orders, placing them in tied-shut plastic bags, and handing them to customers with proper spacing.
It was also found that there were no more than 10 motorcycles in the parking lot. Leave it to the Left to get dramatic. Customers waited for their orders and then departed.
“What exactly did we do wrong? And who had the authority to take that many resources off the road? It’s hard enough to get two cops at any other time. If I called for a riot I wouldn’t get that kind of response.” Carey said.
Carey, like many others, is trying to keep his business afloat while only taking in about $2,000 per day – a fraction of the bar and grill’s typical daily revenue – and being open only three days weekly. They are selling 32-ounce drinks for $5, beer for $1, and crab cakes for $10 when they are normally $18.99. Lee’s Landing Dock Bar is trying to give great deals to customers at this tremendous time. But to raid a local carry out company who is abiding by the law? Is that really what the governor wants?
Carey was not charged but state police did hit the owner Charles Harry Craven Jr. with two violations of Maryland Emergency Management Administration regulations. Apparently, Craven “willfully” violated an order prohibiting on-premises consumptions of food and drink served by bars, restaurants, and similar establishments. The second misdemeanor lacks the “willful” violation distinction. The first violation is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine and the second carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Craven was not arrested but instead was issued criminal summonses.
What sort of world are we living in right now? Conservatives just want to get back to work but the Liberals just want us all to stay home and praise government dependency once more. We need to open everything back up and support the American families so that their paychecks can be protected and Liberals can’t strip any more individuals of their freedom.