Closure of Copas Bar a relief for some Bay Shore neighbors
Police say they arrested the owner early Saturday for drug possession and violating State Liquor Authority guidelines.
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"Keep out" is the new sign on the door of Copas Bar in Bay Shore.
Police say they arrested the owner early Saturday for drug possession and violating State Liquor Authority guidelines.
"Seven nights a week, they were full. They were a really popular bar…It was a party every night," said Jerry Werner, who works at Bay Shore Liquors, a few doors down from Copas Bar.
"I'm surprised the owner got arrested but as far as liquor laws or anything else I'm not that surprised…they did things their own way," said Werner.
Police say as of Saturday, Dec. 7, the bar is shut down.
Homeowners in the area told News 12 that they're relieved it's closed. This all comes two weeks after police say gunshots were fired into a car as a man was driving on Bay Shore Road. No one was hurt and no arrests were made.
August Johnson says he lives about a block away from Copas Bar.
"Thursday, Friday, Saturday, loud music. They park over here, they park over there. No fighting, but it really is a menace,” said Johnson.
Police say they're charging owner Carlos Ruiz-Perez with criminal possession of a controlled substance and issued him multiple citations for State Liquor Authority violations.
Two men were also issued citations for working as unlicensed security guards.
Ruiz-Perez is set to be arraigned at a later date.
