The Corner bar that denied Martese Johnson entry shortly before the UVA third-year was arrested in a bloody confrontation with Virginia Alcholic Beverage Control (ABC) police early last Wednesday morning has released a statement about the incident, and has told reporters Johnson appeared neither drunk nor belligerent.
Johnson was charged with public intoxication or swearing and obstruction of justice, and sustained lacerations to his scalp and forehead that left him bloody and required stitches. Photos and a video of the arrest were circulated widely online and sparked outrage at UVA and beyond.
Kevin Badke, co-owner and manager of Trinity Irish Pub, held an “invite-only press conference” over the weekend, and pushed out a lengthy statement to a few news outlets via the restaurant’s lawyer, Cheri Lewis. Badke told InsideCville.com’s Coy Barefoot that he was working the door when Johnson presented his ID shortly after 12:15am Wednesday. The restaurant and bar has a policy of only admitting people over the age of 21 after 10pm, according to the statement, to ensure nobody underage gets served alcohol. That night, the statement says, ABC agents had told Badke they would be keeping an eye on the pub because “they were Irish.”
While Johnson is still a few months shy of 21, Badke said he didn’t even look at Johnson’s birthdate. Instead, he said, he saw it was an Illinois ID—not only that, it was from the southside of Chicago, where Badke himself is from. He did what he said he often does when he’s handed an out-of-state ID: He asked Johnson for his zip code. The one Johnson gave didn’t match, a detail that aligns with a statement made by Johnson’s attorney last week (Johnson has said his family has moved since his current ID was issued four years ago). Badke said he turned Johnson away because he thought the ID was likely a fake, but said the interaction was “cordial and respectful,” and Johnson walked away.
“A few moments later, Mr. Badke heard a commotion, turned, and saw Mr. Johnson on the ground about 30 feet further up on University Avenue with ABC agents detaining him,” the Trinity statement reads.
Neither Trinity’s owners nor Lewis have responded to multiple requests for comment from C-VILLE since last week. The statement is copied in full below.
STATEMENT FROM MANAGEMENT OF TRINITY IRISH PUB – MARTESE JOHNSON INCIDENT
The management of Trinity Irish Pub located at 1505 University Avenue on UVA’s Corner wish to issue this Press Release to clarify the events of the morning of March 18, 2015 with respect to the Martese Johnson incident, which resulted in his assault and arrest by three Alcohol Beverage Control special agents.
First, Trinity is restaurant and Irish pub which has been serving the UVA community for 7 1/2 years. Trinity is a place of public accommodation. Trinity does not nor has it ever discriminated on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin which is prohibited by Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Trinity currently employs about 130 individuals of all ages, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and color. Employees and our guests are treated with the utmost respect, not because its required by law but because it’s the way to run a successful establishment.
Because it serves alcohol to its patrons, Trinity is licensed and regulated by Virginia’s Alcohol Beverage Control Board. In a college town, ensuring that underage patrons are not served alcohol is a priority. The management of Trinity have found it best to enact a strict 21 and over policy after 10pm during busy evenings for the establishment, generally Tuesday through Saturday evenings. Trinity believes this notably limits the possibility of underage students attempting to gain access to the restaurant. A 10pm timeframe is fair because it allows underage students to still dine at our restaurant for a late dinner. At 10pm, Trinity switches over to our late night food menu. Once 10pm comes, under no circumstances do we allow anyone under the age of 21 to enter the establishment. However, there are special circumstances, such as parties renting out the restaurant, when Trinity will allow underage patrons. This rule is communicated to bouncers on a repetitive basis. At 10pm, Trinity also locks up its patio furniture to assemble a barrier to form a line to the door. This gives us the best way to control the line, keep patrons safe, and most importantly, prevent underage students from sneaking in. Once 10pm comes, Trinity makes sure that each and every single person who wishes to enter the restaurant is ID’d.
Three bouncers are typically positioned at the door. Two bouncers constantly check ID’s while the third controls the exit and monitors the number of patrons to ensure fire code safety. If any questions arise about ID’s, the bouncers are instructed to ask one another first and if they are still unsure, a manager will assist and solve the issue. Trinity believes this structured policy enables the restaurant to create a safe environment and administer to all laws to the state of Virginia.
Prior to Tuesday evening, the management of Trinity were told by ABC agents that their establishment would be watched over closely on St. Patrick’s Day because “they were Irish.” In order to ensure that they were in compliance with ABC regulations, Mr. Kevin Badke, Managing Owner of Trinity Irish Pub, was on the restaurant premises and at the front door for a good part of the evening. On or about 12:15am, he spoke with Fire Marshall officials as well as ABC agents who were positioned outside the restaurant and closer to the street on University Way.
Sometime shortly thereafter, Martese Johnson, who had been in the line described, stepped up to Mr. Badke and handed him his ID. Mr. Badke did not look at the birthdate or the photo, but he did note that the ID was from Illinois. Mr. Badke is from Illinois. Mr. Badke asked Mr. Johnson to provide the zip code on the ID. According to Mr. Badke, this is a test he frequently uses to determine if a patron is using a fake ID. If the ID doesn’t belong to them, they are not familiar with some of the details on the ID. Mr. Johnson provided the wrong zip code, although it was close to the one on the license. Mr. Badke immediately responded that he could not accept it. Mr. Johnson, probably realizing the reason for the error, stated that he had moved. At this point, Mr. Badke and Mr. Johnson had a brief conversation because Mr. Badke is from the south side of Chicago, where Mr. Johnson indicated he was from. In Mr. Badke’s opinion, Mr. Johnson did not appear to be intoxicated in the least. Despite the conversation, which was cordial and respectful, Mr. Badke reiterated that he could not permit him to enter. He handed Mr. Johnson his ID back and Mr. Johnson began walking in a north westerly direction up University Avenue. A few moments later, Mr. Badke heard a commotion, turned, and saw Mr. Johnson on the ground about 30 feet further up on University Avenue with ABC agents detaining him.
There have been reported comments that management of Trinity were belligerent towards Mr. Johnson or that Mr. Johnson was belligerent towards management. Those allegations are patently untrue, as the brief conversation that occurred was polite and cordial. Mr. Badke’s observation was that Mr. Johnson was a disappointed patron.
There have been reports that Trinity engages or engaged, in this incident, in racial profiling in not permitting Mr. Johnson to enter. The rationale for allowing patrons to enter – being familiar with the zip code on their own license – is color, gender, race, and ethnicity-blind.
Comments made by a previous employee by the name of Dante DeVito that Trinity instructs its management to scrutinize persons of color for entry, are patently false. Mr. DeVito was employed by Trinity for six months and was terminated by management for cause. His comments are those of a disgruntled former employee and are not accurate.
Trinity has been interviewed by and is cooperating with the State Police who indicated that they are investigating the use of excessive force by the ABC officials who arrested Mr. Johnson.