County Liquor Board Fines River Watch for Disturbing the Peace

After several complaints from community members, the Baltimore County Liquor Board summoned the owners of the Riverwatch restaurant in Middle River for a hearing Monday to state why their liquor license should not be suspended or revoked.

After nearly two hours of testimony from police, residents, the business owners and their employees, the board panel fined the restaurant $500 for disturbing the peace of the neighborhood June 26.

As liquor board chairman Charles E. Klein handed down his decision, he told River Watch owner Mark Sullivan that the panel decided to treat the hearing as a first offense since the restaurant had not been before the board in 10 years. 

"However, we want to pass on that the neighborhood is obviously frustrated. There are obviously problems; continue doing what you’re doing to cut down on it. If you’re back in for those problems in the future we will probably not be as lenient," Klein said.

The focus of the Monday afternoon hearing was noise complaints stemming from incidents on May 19 through Memorial Day weekend, as well as another incident on June 26, wherein three people were injured, including one employee.

Testifying before the board, Essex precinct police Captain Michael DiPaula said that "although there have been issues with the River Watch, they're probably the least of [his] concerns."

"Residents are rightfully complaining—I think they have some valid issues. As far as ownership has gone, they’ve worked with my command to resolve the issues," DiPaula testified.

"All I ask is—you know you mix heat, large crowds and alcohol—all I ask is that owners cooperate with me and take proactive steps. I can honestly say I’ve gotten that cooperation,” he said.

DiPaula told the board that Sullivan has hired additional security, altered the type and format of music played at the establishment, posted a dress code and begun running a shuttle van from a nearby fire station on Nanticoke Road to the establishment—all in order to curb noise and crowding issues.

Sullivan, a resident of Glen Arm, also told the board that he was doing his best to address the issues raised by neighbors.

"We changed our dress code—some of the people coming in are a little rough. I hate to say this about their dress—sometimes you can pick out who’s gonna cause trouble and who’s not," Sullivan said.

He explained that River Watch staff ask patrons not to park on nearby Birch Road, or to wander up Nanticoke Road, but was quick to point out that his staff does not have the legal right to prevent anyone from disobeying their requests.

"We try to work with neighbors. I can’t do anything about people walking up the street. I’m willing to work with people if anyone has any suggestions," Sullivan said.

Since the incidents, a total of 11 River Watch staff, including head of security Taz Yarrell and bartenders, have completed Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM) certification, and security personnel have taken crowd management seminars with the fire department.

"We're also trying to attract an older crowd—we started attracting the 21-year-old club crowd; we really want a crowd 30 and over. We noticed that 21-year-olds don’t know how to act," Sullivan said.

Still, neighbors say they are concerned. The restaurant, which has a maximum capacity of 650 people among its three indoor and outdoor bars and restaurant, has only 180 parking spaces, and neighbors say it plays music too loud more than three days each week.

Holly Farabaugh, of St. Mary's Road, came to the board to testify against the Riverwatch.

“What I can tell you—they’re not counting all the motorcycles parked in a cluster, the church parking lot, cars throughout the community, fire department parking lot,” Farabaugh said.

She said that on Sunday nights, “people ... are over-served [and] walking throughout the neighborhood, holding onto a fence walking down Nanticoke Road.”

Sunday is a big day for business at the River Watch, when a band plays from 5-9 p.m. and a DJ plays from 9-10 p.m.

“Not only [are they] stumbling up and down the streets, they are vomiting and urinating in neighbor's yards,” she told the board.

She explained that neighbors do not allow their children outside on Sunday afternoons because of cars "racing up and down the streets."

“I witness just about every Sunday what happens. I live on St. Mary’s and we can hear the music. We’re a waterfront community and sound travels over the water,” Farabaugh said.