Staten Island bar owner 'runs owner cop in his car' as he tries to flee arrest at self-declared 'autonomous zone' speak-easy which was letting drinkers in through adjacent property despite Covid restrictions and has raised $80k on GoFundMe
The co-owner of a Staten Island bar who continues to defy an indoor dining ban ran over a police officer with his car early Sunday morning, authorities have said.
Danny Presti, 34, fled from his bar, Mac's Public House, after deputies observed patrons entering the establishment in violation of city and state closure orders, Sheriff Joseph Fucito said.
Source told The New York Post customers had been entering the speakeasy via a nearby address.
Presti had declared his business an 'autonomous zone' after it fell within an orange zone because of spiking COVID-19 rates and was not supposed to be serving customers indoors. He had already been arrested for violating that rule on Tuesday.
A GoFundMe set up to help Mac's Public House has raised more than $80,000 as of Sunday morning.
On Wednesday night, around 2,000 people were said to be outside the Staten Island bar chanting 'Defund The Sheriff', Cuomo sucks!' and 'USA USA'.
Danny Presti, 34, ran over a police officer with his car early Sunday morning, authorities have said. He is pictured after an earlier arrest Tuesday for violating COVID dining rules
Presti had declared his business an 'autonomous zone' after it fell within an orange zone because of spiking COVID-19 rates and was not supposed to be serving customers indoors. He had already been arrested for violating that rule on Tuesday
Deputies say they had attempted to arrest Presti as he left the bar early Sunday, but Presti got into his car, struck a deputy and kept driving for about 100 yards even as the deputy was left hanging onto the hood, Fucito said.
Presti was eventually stopped and apprehended, the sheriff said. Charges against him were pending.
The injured deputy was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries. The deputy's condition wasn't immediately available.
An email seeking comment was sent to an attorney representing the bar's owners.
On Wednesday night, around 2,000 people were said to be outside the Staten Island bar chanting 'Defund The Sheriff', Cuomo sucks!' and 'USA USA'
Sources said customers had been entering the speakeasy via a nearby address
The Staten Island bar was the site of protests last week, pictured, after the sheriff's office said plainclothes officers were able to go inside and order food and beverages on Tuesday. Presti was arrested at the time
People protest outside of the Mac's Public House after closed it down amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the Staten Island borough of New York City, U.S., December 2
The Staten Island bar was the site of protests last week after the sheriff's office said plainclothes officers were able to go inside and order food and beverages on Tuesday. Presti was arrested at the time.
The owners had declared the bar an 'autonomous zone,' a nod to protesters who claimed control over a Seattle neighborhood in June.
Presti told Fox News on Friday: 'At this point...we are losing faith, and kind of lost faith in the ability for our local and city governments to help us.
'So if they don't give us assistance in some way, or are working with us to get back open in a safe manner, we're going to have to take things into our own hands.'
A GoFundMe set up to help Mac's Public House has raised more than $80,000 as of Sunday
Fellow owner Keith McAlarney said he took such actions because he felt his business would not survive another shutdown.
'We are just trying to make a living and feed our families,' he said outside the bar on Wednesday. 'We jumped through every hoop, did whatever they did. But at some point, you can't just keep shutting down.'
Cuomo on Wednesday released a statement addressing first Presti's arrest.
'This owner is learning that actions have consequences. Breaking the law and putting your neighbors' lives at risk during a global pandemic to make a political statement is simply unacceptable,' it read.