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iBerkshires.com Columnist SectionSue Bush
More articles from Sue Bush
New Assault Probe At Mountain ViewBy Susan Bush
12:00AM / Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Clarksburg – Town police are investigating a Dec. 2 report about a Mountain View restaurant assault that allegedly involved a trio of restaurant employees.
The alleged assault left a town resident with a ruptured larynx, according to a woman who said that she witnessed the assault.
Speaking during a Dec. 6 interview, Ana Rizzo of Petersburg, N.Y. confirmed that she called police on Dec. 2 and reported that her companion, Kenneth Larabee of Clarksburg, was assaulted and injured by three restaurant bouncers who were allegedly following instructions from restaurant owner Michael Milazzo.
Larabee subsequently sought medical treatment at the North Adams Regional Hospital, Rizzo said. Larabee was told by an emergency room physician that he sustained a ruptured larynx, according to Rizzo. Rizzo said that a copy of the medical report is being provided to investigating police officers.
Speaking on Dec. 5, town police Chief Michael Williams confirmed a police investigation was launched following a reported Dec. 2 assault at the restaurant. A woman reported to police that her companion was assaulted by restaurant employees, Williams said, and declined further comment because the investigation is ongoing.
Restaurant Hearings Tonight
Two separate hearings involving the restaurant are scheduled to occur at Town Hall tonight [Dec. 7] but whether either hearing will result in action or resolution was uncertain as of Dec. 6.
At 6:30 p.m., Selectmen, acting as the town’s licensing board, are expected to hold a show cause hearing about alleged violations involving the restaurant’s all-alcoholic beverages license. A series of alleged assaults at the restaurant are likely to be a focus of the hearing and Williams is expected to present concerns to Selectmen. Milazzo will have an opportunity to answer any allegations of liquor license violations. Additional assault allegations include a Nov. 4 incident reported to North Adams police by a Cheshire teen-aged female who claimed that she was assaulted at the restaurant. Williams has confirmed that incident is also under investigation.
Milazzo filed an application seeking approval for nude dancing at the restaurant in September. A public hearing before Selectmen was held on Oct. 26 and was continued to Nov. 16. The hearing was again continued and is expected to reconvene tonight at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
Larabee has publicly opposed Milazzo’s request for a nude entertainment license.
Dec. 2 Alleged Assault
According to Rizzo and Larabee, Larabee had not patronized the restaurant prior to Dec. 2. Rizzo said that she and Larabee went to the restaurant because a live band was scheduled to perform. Rizzo and Larabee each paid a $3 cover charge and were inside the premises when Milazzo approached Larabee and told Larabee that he was “barred†from the establishment, Rizzo said.
“Ken asked Milazzo how he could be barred when he’d never even been in the place,†Rizzo said. “Ken said ‘let’s call the police and straighten this out,’ and the next thing we knew, Mike said ‘get him out of here’ and they grabbed him.â€
Two restaurant employees grabbed Larabee from either side of his person and a third employee placed Larabee in a chokehold, she said.
Larabee was dragged from the building while being continually choked, Rizzo said. The choking continued after Larabee was outside of the building, she said.
“He was being choked so hard that he couldn’t breathe and they kept saying to him ‘are you going to leave, are you going to leave,’ and he couldn’t answer them because he was being choked,†Rizzo said. “I said ‘please, stop it, you’re killing him.’ And then he was let go. There wasn’t any need for any of it; Ken had his hands up and wasn’t trying to fight with anyone.â€
Rizzo said that she called police to report the incident instead of Larabee because Larabee was unable to speak audibly after the incident.
Town police Officers Christopher Gelinas and Arthur Barbeau were sent to the restaurant, Rizzo said.
Gelinas “did an outstanding job and acted in a total impartial and professional manner,†Rizzo stated in an e-mail released on Dec. 6 about the incident.
Rizzo said that she and Larabee plan to attend the liquor license show cause hearing.
“Clarksburg should not have to put up with thug tactics and people who think they are above the law and officials who know about it and allow it to happen,†Rizzo stated in the e-mail.
Reported Negotiations
Meanwhile, Milazzo said on Dec. 6 that his attorney Daniel Kelly and town counsel Jonathan M. Silverstein have been working to negotiate an agreement between himself and town officials. Milazzo declined further comment.
And speaking on conditions of anonymity, a restaurant abutter said that Anthony Milazzo, Michael Milazzo's father, hosted a private meeting at the restaurant on Dec. 2, and told several neighborhood residents that the application for nude entertainment would be dropped if neighbors would forgo any objections to another Milazzo proposal. The Milazzos are also seeking town approval to operate a sand and gravel removal operation from their property.
Michael Milazzo confirmed that a meeting did occur but declined to comment on specific details.
Susan Bush may be reached via e-mail at suebush@iberkshires.com or at 802-823-9367.
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