Detective Mark Walsh of the Boston Police Department presented a detailed account of the January 20, 2024, incident at Tate Bakery, located on Boon Street. The altercation, which involved the use of a knife, resulted in serious injury to Federico Eladi, a bakery employee. Eladi, who speaks Spanish, reported through a translator that he had been stabbed in the head by Juan Masius during an argument. Despite the severity of his injuries, Eladi was advised by Chef Robert Fagan to downplay the incident and was subsequently terminated from his position.

Walsh issued a license premise violation to the bakery’s supervisor, Francesco Suarez, for failing to notify the police immediately following the altercation. The board’s discussion highlighted the bakery’s cooperation during the investigation but noted a lack of clarity in their incident response procedures. The language barrier further complicated the situation, as the employees involved were not individually interviewed due to proficiency issues, necessitating the use of bilingual staff.

Attorney Miller, representing Tate Bakery, questioned Detective Walsh on the investigative process, specifically whether Eladi had been interviewed directly. Walsh confirmed that Eladi had chosen not to pursue further action at the time. The board expressed concern over the absence of video footage of the actual altercation, as cameras did not cover the dishroom where the incident occurred. Nonetheless, the available footage showed staff attending to Eladi’s wounds.

The board emphasized the importance of immediate law enforcement notification in such incidents and deliberated on whether the bakery could have anticipated the altercation, given the absence of prior complaints about the employees involved. The bakery’s long history without previous incidents was noted, but the commissioners stressed the need for clear procedures to handle workplace violence.

In another significant agenda item, the board discussed an assault and battery incident at Linster Group Inc., doing business as Scholars, located on School Street. This incident took place on January 29, 2024, and involved a blocked emergency exit during a private holiday party. Attorney Andrew Upton, representing Scholars, along with owner Orin McGonagal and other staff members, addressed the charges. Detective Sergeant Hogan and Officer Christopher Rooney provided the police report, detailing the chaotic scene upon their arrival, including overturned bar stools and the victim, Patrick Corbett, who had been sprayed with OC spray and sustained a laceration to his eye.

Witnesses, including bartender Nicholas Valentino, described the suspect as becoming agitated when informed of the bar’s closing, leading to the deployment of OC spray by Valentino in self-defense. The board discussed the bar’s response and the lack of comprehensive video footage, due to ongoing upgrades to the camera system. Upton emphasized the bar’s good standing and previous incident-free record, noting that the blocked exits were a result of the melee and not a pre-existing condition.

The board also reviewed incidents at L Grand Manzana and Barney’s Grill, both located in East Boston. Detective James presented police reports for L Grand Manzana, detailing assaults that took place on January 23rd. Victims Brenda Parado and John Caris Catalano recounted their experiences of being attacked during a dispute over a bill. Owner Johnny Hernandez cooperated with the investigation and provided video footage of the incident. The board took this matter under advisement.

Barney’s Grill, represented by Killer Cardona, faced scrutiny for an altercation on April 22nd. Cardona, managing the establishment due to his father’s incapacitation, described the rapid escalation of a confrontation with patrons attempting to leave with drinks. Both parties involved received medical attention, and the matter was settled in court with a no-return agreement for one of the patrons.

Overcrowding issues at CK’s, located at six Commercial Street, were also discussed. Detectives William Gallagan and Eddie Hernandez discovered 124 patrons on the second floor, exceeding the capacity limit of 96. Manager Niik Baldasari explained that the overcrowding occurred during Game Four of the Celtics championship series, a time when previous games had seen minimal attendance. The board took this matter under advisement, considering the establishment’s overall capacity and staffing adjustments for future events.

The meeting concluded with discussions on several other incidents, including underage drinking at Margaritaville and an after-hours operation at Little Haiti International Cuisine. The board emphasized the importance of compliance with regulations and thorough reporting to ensure safety and accountability.