MORGANTOWN — West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration conducted compliance checks Saturday at a downtown bar, followed by a search by the Morgantown Police Department.
The MPD and WVABCA entered The Bank, 344 High St., on Saturday night, and The Bank closed before its regularly scheduled time on Sunday morning.
Andrew Stacy, Morgantown’s public information officer, said city police are only investigating criminal offenses, which are still being determined. No more information can be shared as the investigation is on-going, he said.
Code, Fallout Shelter, Joe Mama’s, Tailgater’s Pub 2, Fat Daddy’s and The Sports Page, were also subjected to routine inspections that night — St. Patrick’s Day — said Gig Robinson, WVABCA spokesperson. The MPD also participated in those inspections.
Stacy said it’s common for local law enforcement to assist the WVABCA, since the agency can only issue administrative violations.
The search warrants were obtained after WVABCA enforcement officers found a number of criminal violations during a compliance check, Stacy said.
Robinson said administrative violations issued by the WVABCA over the holiday weekend are being reviewed. He did not say which bars were given violations or why. Violations can result in the licensee receiving a warning, fine or suspension.
Additionally, seven citations were issued by law enforcement to people attempting to use fake ID’s to purchase alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day.
Robinson said the businesses were cooperative when officers arrived for the joint MPD-WVABCA operation.
Two citations were issued by law enforcement at Fat Daddy’s, one at Sheetz in Sunnyside and four at Little General on Willey Street.
