Texas: 18 arrests made in liquor-violations investigation

Source: Houston 2

Samantha Ptashkin, Reporter

Jul 01 2015

Eighteen people were arrested by authorities during a liquor law investigation at bars and nightclubs around the Houston area.

The arrests were announced at a news conference Wednesday morning. The six-week investigation started on May 16 and ended Tuesday. A newly formed team called “Le Vice Working Group,” made up officers from several law enforcement agencies, visited 85 bars and nightclubs with a history of violating liquor laws.

The initiative was started in an effort to curb alcohol-related incidents across Harris County.

“Over the last several months we’ve had an increase in wrong way head on collisions, resulting in the deaths of members of our community,” said Mark Decatur, with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

“By informing the media and the public of this initiative, we are encouraging all business owners who sell alcohol or allow alcohol on their premises to abide by state laws,” said Dan Harris, captain of the HPD Vice Division. “Our street officers can’t do it alone in terms of keeping drunk drivers off our roadways. We need enforcement efforts to extend to businesses selling alcohol so we can help keep intoxicated individuals from operating motor vehicles.”

The group found nearly 40 percent of the bars and nightclubs visited had some sort of violation. If they continue violating the law the city could possibly sue the owners.

“And we can give the judge an opportunity to show them how they should run their business and in the instance they don’t, we can close them down for up to one year,” said Sandra Eisdon, a lawyer for the City of Houston.

Those arrested were employees and patrons at the bars and nightclubs targeted in the investigation.

List of names and charges: http://www.click2houston.com/news/multiple-arrests-made-in-liquor-violations-investigations/33901146