State Liquor Board Suspends Wapato Sports Bar’s License

A Wapato sports bar is out of business today -- and for at least the next 180 days. State officials shut down Martinez Sports Bar on Tuesday, citing allegations of assaults, lewd conduct, over-service of patrons and supplying liquor to an underage customer in recent months.

The closure came after the Washington State Liquor Control Board issued an emergency liquor license suspension for the establishment, 116 W. Second St. in Wapato. The suspension is effective for 180 days beginning April 7 and continuing until Oct. 4.

During that time the liquor control board will seek permanent revocation of the bar's license.

“Emergency suspensions represent an extraordinary exercise of the state’s power because it suspends liquor sales without due process,” said board chair Jane Rushford. “The board reserves this authority only for the most serious cases.”

The emergency suspension is the result of repeated reports of misconduct on the premises as evidenced by the accumulation of three public safety Administrative Violation Notices within two years.

In addition to the current violations, the board previously revoked Martinez Sports Bar's license on Jan. 13. The licensee's appeal is pending in Yakima County Superior Court. The Jan. 13 order stemmed from violations in 2013, for which the bar served a previous 180-day emergency suspension.

According to the Administrative Violation Notices, the most recent problems at the bar included:

• On or about March 12, the licensee or an employee assaulted a patron inside the premises. In a separate incident, on or about March 13, the licensee or an employee assaulted an employee and/or engaged in lewd conduct on the licensed premises.
• On or about Feb. 14, the licensee or an employee served alcohol to a person under the age of 21. The minor was later arrested and charged with driving under the influence by the Washington State Patrol with a blood alcohol content of 0.203 -- more than twice the state's legal limit.
• On or about July 13, 2014, the licensee or an employee allowed an intoxicated individual to continue to consume alcohol and remain on the licensed premises.

The liquor control board is authorized by state law to issue an emergency suspension of up to 180 days of a liquor license when it believes the “health, safety or welfare” of the general public is in danger. The board has issued no other emergency suspensions in 2015. It issued one emergency suspension in 2014.