Batavia bar owner pays $750 fine for not reporting fight to police: records

BATAVIA – The owner of Batavia’s Bulldog Cellar Bar and Grill agreed to pay a $750 fine to the city in a plea agreement after being accused of not reporting a fight to police as required under the city’s liquor code, according to documents released after a Freedom of Information Act request.

The incident occurred shortly after 11:30 p.m. Feb. 14. A bar patron went to the Batavia Police Department to report that he was battered at Bulldog Cellar, 1 E. Wilson St., Batavia, according to the report.

The patron told police that he attempted to calm an argument when suddenly he was tackled, put in a headlock and punched in the face, according to the report.

The victim did not want to go to the hospital or pursue charges, according to the report.

After police arrived at the bar, the bartender told them that patrons were playing “Stab Between the Fingers,” a knife game, which was making him feel uncomfortable, according to the report.

Arguing about putting the knife away led to the fight, according to the report.

A Feb. 15 notice of liquor code violations stated that “an owner/employee of the business became involved in a physical altercation with a patron of the business inside the premises of the business and did not report it to police as required in violation of … the Batavia City Code.”

Bulldog Cellar owner Jason Keller had the choice of a hearing before Mayor Jeffrey Schielke, who also serves as the Liquor Control Commissioner, or pay the $750 fine and waive his right to a hearing, records show.

“Please be advised the city of Batavia takes violations of the Batavia Liquor Code very seriously,” the notice of liquor violation stated. “Future violations will lead to increased penalties including but not limited to suspension or revocation of your liquor license. This violation is considered a second offense as the business previously received a written warning for a similar violation on Jan. 3, 2020.”

Keller did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Bulldog Cellar reported a bar fight six days later on Feb. 20, according to a police report obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

According to that report, patrons began arguing and one was pushed to the ground and suffered a cut to the back of the head.

Video surveillance from the bar showed a patron walk by in a nonaggressive manner only to receive a choke hold from behind and be pulled backward onto the floor, according to the report.

The patrons separated, paid their bills and left without incident, the report stated.

The injured patron later told police he received three staples to the back of his head, the report stated.

Bulldog Cellar previously had reported a bar fight on April 3, 2021, records show.