Are Auburn bars dangerous?
Owners, law enforcement say problems can arise
Kimbuck Williams says he knows his bar has had a bad reputation - but that doesn’t hold true today. “I think one of the main misconceptions is that you wouldn’t ever bring a date here,” Williams said. “Some people think it’s just an old redneck fight bar.” Williams owns the California Club in Old Town Auburn and said he’s hoping some renovations a few years ago, and the drive to have more live music, will prove his bar is a safe place for a good time. With a recent violent bar fight leaving one Auburn woman with a year’s worth of reconstructive surgery ahead of her, Auburn bar owners and law enforcement officials acknowledge that it’s no surprise that problems arise when alcohol is in the mix. However, whether or not local bars are unsafe for their patrons is something both sides say is a matter of having effective security and making the right judgment call. “Common sense is a must,” said Valerie Harris, Auburn police chief. Harris said responding to calls from bars is a “demand” on officers. Last year, officers responded to a total of 256 calls in 2008 encompassing businesses in the Downtown and Old Town Auburn areas. The specific areas included the 1500 block of Lincoln Way, the 100 block of Cleveland Avenue, the 830 block of Lincoln Way, and the intersection of Lincoln Way and Cherry Street. Harris said the calls encompassing the area surrouding Cherry Street to the Clock Tower were disproprtionatly higher than those in the Old Town Auburn area. The activity calls were for a variety of reasons including public intoxication reports, suspicious circumstances or vehicles, traffic stops, physical fights, complaints, calls initiated from bars, police initiated walk-throughs, other assists such as medical aid, response to 911 calls, assault and battery calls, and theft reports, Harris said. “Our goal would be of course not to respond or have any residual effect from anyone consuming alcohol, however, that’s not the case today,” Harris said. Bob and Betty’s 160 Club owner Claudia Cheeseman said she feels her bar is a safe place that includes many patrons whom she considers family. She said some recent incidents have left the bar with a bad reputation. Last year, Michael Lane allegedly stabbed 21-year-old Britton Reed multiple times in a parking lot on the 100 block of Cleveland Avenue. Both the victim and accused man were at the 160 Club prior to the fight. In November, Lane pleaded no contest to assault with a deadly weapon and admitted to an allegation causing great bodily harm. He is scheduled to be sentenced in March. The incident that left one Auburn woman with severe mouth damage also happened outside of the bar. “We’d love to control that but unfortunately you can only do your best judgment,” Cheeseman said. “You try to make everybody safe and comfortable.” One way bar owners and law enforcement try to do that is by working together. Harris said officers will conduct requested walk-throughs of any business just to make their presence known. She recommends that any business ask for the same if they feel they need it. “We really try to make our presence known as a deterrent so that people can enjoy that business environment,” Harris said. Harris said in 2008, the police department responded to six calls citywide involving assault with great bodily injury. “Those are more of a rarity,” Harris said. Pete Aroz, Jr., manager of Pistol Pete’s in Auburn, said he’s had to call the police on occasion to escort someone from the bar, but usually it doesn’t result in an arrest. “That just keeps the peace and keeps violence from escalating in the business,” Aroz said. “I think that’s the way most people in the bar business handle it.” Harris said a combination of knowing your surroundings and an effort on the business’s part to keep an establishment safe are important. “You must balance alcohol consumption and putting yourself into environments that you feel are safe,” Harris said. Cheeseman agrees that bar owners do need to take on a certain level of responsibility. She said she keeps a list of anyone not allowed in her bar. She also encourages anyone and everyone to call her if they need a designated driver. The bar also offers unlimited soda and other non-alcoholic beverages to designated drivers. “People have a bad outlook on bars,” Cheeseman said. “Yes, we serve alcohol but we try to take care of our customers and the people who come in because they’re our family. Anybody who walks through that door is a part of our family.” The Journal's Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment. Related Story: Business holds fundraiser for Auburn victim
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Chief Harris states: "“Our goal would be of course not to respond or have any residual effect from anyone consuming alcohol, however, that’s not the case today,”; actually, bar vilence is not worse today than in teh past. As Kimbuck says, The California Club has fewer problems than it did back in the 60s & 70s. Flared tempers come with the territory. It just needs to be dealt with as it happens. It would be innaccurate to assume that the police dept is overwhelmed with such problems.
As we all know alcohol gives you wings or courage, that is why people use it. The problems are inevitable and unpreventable. Nothing good ever happens to anybody when they drink enough to become intoxicated. Bar owners have the responsibility to stop serving someone before they get so drunk that they can't understand being cut off. Or try and limit customers to an amount they can handle per hour. The club seen needs the owners to step up and take care of their patrons. Just one drunk driving conviction can ruin someones whole life, costing people their marriage jobs and even freedom. The responsibility is on the tavern owners and many in the Auburn area do make an effort.
Original idea, I agree with most of your post, however, the ultimate responsibility is with the person, the tavern owner, bartender etc should only intervene when it is obvious that the person is choosing not to exercise good judgement.
No place is dangerous unless you allow it to be, attitude is the key.
loomisresident: I agree that the responsibility lies with the bar patron. But if the bartender intervened when it is obvious that a person is not using good judgment, he is presented with an impossible task, as it is not good judgment to patronize a bar in the first place. In my humble opinion. If I'm going to drink, I'm going to do it where I don't have to drive home and where there is no risk of having to deal with people who habitually become mean when they are drunk. I like happy drunks, not mean ones.
Please help with Mareen's recovery; she's got a long and painful road ahead. A "recovery fund" has been set up to help pay her medical bills and incidentals. For more information, please visit the www.iheartmo.com website. From the "friends of maureen (mo)".
Cheeseman's response sounds like a cop-out. She knows there is a problem with her establishment but does not feel the need to do anything about it.
HIRE SECURITY - they do not cost that much & sometimes just their presence is enough to detour people from acting inappropriately. They are another pair of eyes on the place. They bar tender cannot serve people and watch the patrons at the same time.
LocalGirl1976 - you are right on. The two words that may prevent the next person from a long and painful recovery: HIRE SECURITY.
I can't speak about all of the bar's in Auburn, But on my last occasion of being a DD at Pistol Pete's in Downtown Auburn, i left with a feeling the atmosphere within the bar was out of control. In more than one occasion i witnessed people who were refused alcohol by the Bartenders going next door to the Liquor Outlet, Buying Alcohol and then returning to the bar. The bartenders were on spot with refusing service to the couple who had already had too much, But what is the point of that if they allow outside alcohol within their bar? One of the drunk patron's even had the nerve to tell me off (While I was Sober), While wearing his company jacket. I'm still planning a trip to that company to let his manager know about the bad image their employee is giving their otherwise good company. Without basic door security, A local bar is only as good as the intoxicated low class scum that is free to walk in or out of the door at any moment.
The reputation of the California Club is still true. I would never take a date there. The 160 club and Pistol Petes arent much better. Its a good thing APD has some young proactive cops in their department that seem to have a decent handle on the car violence.
Bar violence
I can't comment on any of the Auburn bars named since I've never been to any of them. California requires bartenders to refuse service if the patron show signs of intoxication or belligerence according to a friend of mine who owns a bar in Rocklin. If someone walks through the door and is obviously intoxicated the bartender cannot serve him. There are many categories of bars such as biker bars, cowboy type ones, etc, I have no clue what these fall under but it appears from reading the story and the posts that they don't attract the best clientele, some people just like to fight.
EJ_Applegate: Pistol Pete's wouldn't allow either outside alcohol into their bar or inside alcohol out.
perhaps we need to regulate bars and alcohol
? a 10 day waiting period to get a drink
a background check before you can drink or serve alcohol
maybe even a license to consume it
perhaps with a doctor's note, like pot ?
and safety equipment, helmets should be required in bars
and maybe gloves too
that could cut down on the injuries during the fights
and we could have state-approved gloves
so we can tax them and help with the deficit
While I know the management 'wouldn't allow' outside alcohol in Pistol Pete's, IT HAPPENS. Until they hire a door man it will continue to happen. You cant tell me one or two bartenders can pay attention to everything 30 or 40 people are doing, including having a bottle from outside the bar.
I am displeased with the owner’s response on the article She clearly is a CHEAP SKATE and should hire security if she wants to stay in business. My question is when do the owners of these establishments become responsible? They claim it happened outside or we are not responsible, When you have a continuous outbreak of violence at your establishment & have taken no steps to correct the situation I think owner should be held accountable. Cheeseman is acting negligently by not ATTEMPTING a correction of the problem. According to the map her establishment has had the majority of phone calls requesting police assistance. This not just a case of one-time thing it seems be a serious case of bar owner turning a blind eye to the needs of the business. Bob & Betty’s serve a certain type of clientele she should compensate for that & HIRE SECURITY so innocent people are not stuck in the middle unexpectedly.
EJ_Applegate: Yes, but the poster stated that they "allow" it, which means "knowingly". It would be a severe violation if they did.