By Jonann Brady
Following a Dec. 7 bust for prostitution at the Crow Bar at 1929 Grand Ave, the First Precinct teamed up with county building inspectors and the fire marshall's office to issue five appearance tickets at the bar for violations of fire and building codes on Thursday, Dec. 13, said Deputy Inspector Richard McCarrick.
The tickets are just the latest in a string of violations. In June, the bar's owners received an appearance ticket for allowing lap dancing and lewdness in the establishment, said McCarrick, who also confirmed that drug arrests have been made there in the past.
The Crow Bar has been open for about two years, and several area residents have complained about increased activity, which they suspected to be drug and prostitution related, at the site over the past several months to both the police and County Legis. Joe Scannell.
One Seaman Avenue resident who asked to remain anonymous said that he and several other neighbors have had it with people coming in and out of the bar "all hours of the day and night acting like hooligans."
Neighbors have found broken bottles and used condoms on their lawns, he said, and bar patrons park illegally on side streets.
The man also said that he and other residents have witnessed a van drop off three to five women at a back entrance to the bar. He said he once went into the bar after observing the van but saw no women upstairs.
On Friday, Dec. 7, Sgt. Ronald Nesbitt entered the bar to conduct a license premise check and noticed an open door leading to the basement and people going up and down the stairs, according to police. In the past, the door was always locked, said police. When Nesbitt went downstairs, he found a woman allegedly engaging in sex with a bar patron.
The woman, 27-year-old Rosio Hernandez of Manhattan, was charged with prostitution and false impersonation after she misidentified herself to the officer. A bar manager, Lavergne Bryant, 38, of Roosevelt was charged with disorderly unlicensed premise and criminal nuisance. And the bartender at the time, Robert Speer, 48, of Seaman Avenue in Baldwin, was charged with promoting prostitution, a felony.
Speer, who was released after posting $2,000 bail, was back at work at the Crow Bar on the Wednesday afternoon after his arrest. Speer said he had no idea what was going on in the basement.
"I don't go down there. I don't know why I was arrested," said Speer.
He added, "Why don't they go to Gentleman's Quarters? They've got topless dancers there."
Speer also complained that the arresting officer had no search warrant. Deputy Inspector McCarrick said that a search warrant is not necessary in a licensed premise in areas with public access.
Legis. Scannell has met with Seaman Avenue residents several times in the past year, most recently the Tuesday before the prostitution arrest, and has taken neighbors' concerns to the police.
First Precinct Inspector Richard Kennedy has spearheaded enforcement efforts at the site, said McCarrick. Kennedy was not available for comment at press time, but neighbors said they were grateful for his efforts.
"Inspector Kennedy has been a godsend," said the Seaman Avenue resident. "If they have a rank over four stars, he should get it."
Legis. Scannell said, "This looks like a culmination of a few months of work. Kennedy did a phenomenal job."
The police say they will keep a close eye on the bar.
"We will continue to observe this premise and make sure that it operates within the law," said McCarrick.
