Dino's Dugout in Milan under investigation for Jell-O wrestling match
The Michigan Liquor Control Commission is investigating a Milan bar for possible violations stemming from a Jell-O wrestling event on Super Bowl Sunday, officials said.
Dino’s Dugout Sports Lounge could be sanctioned for at least four possible violations pending a review by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, said Andrea Miller, an LCC spokeswoman.
Dino's Dugout could be facing sanctions for a Jell-O wrestling match.
Art Aisner | For AnnArbor.com
The violations include: possible sale of alcohol to intoxicated individuals, allowing intoxicated people to loiter, giving alcoholic beverages away for free, and entertaining without an entertainment permit, Miller said.
The incident came to light after a 29-year-old woman who participated in the event was arrested for drunken driving shortly after leaving the bar at about 10 p.m. on Feb. 7.
Police reports indicate Jennifer Lynn McComas was detained after running a stop sign clad in only a bikini and covered in orange Jell-O.
Officers opted not to perform their normal sobriety tests due to her lack of clothing and frigid temperatures. She failed some tests performed while sitting in the vehicle and had a blood alcohol content of .147, nearly double the legal limit to drive in Michigan, reports said.
McComas was charged Wednesday with one count of operating while intoxicated, according to court records. It is her second offense.
Milan Police Chief Jeff Lewis said the department also forwarded the report to the Liquor Control Commission, the state’s licensing and regulatory body for establishments that serve and sell alcohol.
Lewis said he didn't believe any crimes occurred, but felt some administrative rules that could impact the liquor license were violated.Â
Neither he nor Miller would discuss further details while the investigation is ongoing.
Miller said the case was forwarded to state attorneys last week as part of their standard procedure, and the review could take a few weeks. Possible penalties range from fines up to license suspension and even revocation.
The bar is located in the same building as the Campfire Restaurant, which owns two liquor licenses for the premises, state records show. The LCC last cited the ownership in 2004 for a bad check.Â
Both establishments remain open during the review.
Owner Dino Koukoumtzis said he hasn't had any contact with the LCC but was aware police forwarded the case for further investigation. He said he wouldn't comment on the allegations until the LLC completes its probe.
Koukoumtzis defended the decision to host the event and said he took precautions to keep participants and patrons safe, including renting a room at a nearby hotel and arranging a designated driver for the participants. He said he’d likely plan similar events in the future.
“It was fun event with an excited crowd and I got a lot of comments that people would be back,” he said. “I did what I could to do prevent negative things from happening, but it happened anyway for (McComas), I guess.”
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
Paul the Malcontent
Fri, Apr 23, 2010 : 4:18 p.m.
Here's the current Liquor Licensee guide: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/FINAL-_Retail_Guide_2009_WEB_304923_7.pdf
Rici
Wed, Apr 7, 2010 : 10:42 a.m.
If all bars are serving intoxicated individuals, then they are all violating the terms of their liquor license. In Michigan, legal intoxication is when blood alcohol content is.08 percent,.04 for commercial drivers (including bus drivers),.02 for minors. All establishments with liquor licenses should know the visible signs of intoxication. If anybody is interested in the legal issues that Milan's police department is sworn to uphold, and not just spouting off, they might check the State web site, perhaps this document: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/cis/retailguide2004_184874_7.pdf
TheBear
Sat, Mar 27, 2010 : 8 a.m.
Hmmmm. I can't believe how many people believe that this was an OK event, and that the owner Dino is o-so-innocent and why is the police department being so unfair. If you need some sleaze to get your jollies off, hop over to Detroit, there is plenty there. What's next, pole dancing in Milan? There is enough red-neck mentality in Milan, we don't need to encourage it more. Maybe you don't care if this type of activity is happening in your town, but I do, as do lots of other families trying to raise kids in a good environment. But I guess my idea of a proper environment is much different than yours.
Paul the Malcontent
Thu, Mar 11, 2010 : 6:11 a.m.
"...a stop sign clad in only a bikini and covered in orange Jell-O." By all means, this scourge must be addressed before speed limit signs are wearing babydolls & g-strings and mud wrestling.
jondhall
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 9:56 a.m.
Great now the cops will be targeting Banfield's is that East or West??????
frozenhotchocolate
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 1:35 a.m.
The state needs to design a liqeur license for just such an occasion. Its a bar in Milan, no buses, too expensive for a cab, any bar with a parking lot in front means that drunk people will be driving away after last call, stand outside Banfields at 1 45 AM sometime, you will know what i am talking about.
mlpn
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 12:08 a.m.
Had this clubb been in Ypsi or a club that is primarily attended by blacks in Ann Arbor (Studio 4) the comments on here would be way different.
The Picker
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 6:03 p.m.
Drinking, hanging out, Jello, I fail to see a crime here! It's not like they were blowing off fireworks in the restrooms.
Jed I Knight
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 4:45 p.m.
"The violations include: possible sale of alcohol to intoxicated individuals" Is this for real? Sale of alcohol to intoxicated individuals. This is a joke right? Tell me one bar that does not do this. Please.
girlhunter
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 4:25 p.m.
I really do not understand all the charges that are being leveled agiant Dino..First of all no body would even be in the mix with this had the bikini clad girl not been stopped. It was all over town that this event was going on.. Nobody seemed to mind.. if there was a problem why didn't Milans finest speak up then. It seems the page we all seem to be on is the one that says as long as no one get hurt, then we are ok.. but the minute something goes arye.. then there are issues??? Seems that if there were problems.. then the P.D. should have shut them down before any thing happened. But the reality is that it was ok until the arrest. The Milan police make regular rounds through the parking lot there and are very active at pulling people over.. It is common Knowldge in our small communitty that if you drink.. do not drive in MIlan.. so to make the long and the short of it.. is ok as long as you do not get caught.. What a motto to live by.. and letting people loiter.. that is what public establishments do.. as long as they are paying customers.. last I checked they were not loitering... and serving to drunk people?? well in that case I guess they should also investigate every other Bar in town.. walk in any night of the week to any of the 4 bars in Mailn, and you find drunk people.. Humm.. Milan is not a "dry" town and last I knew it was leagle to drink as long as you are over the age of 21 and well.. I guess my feeling on this is that Jenniffe made a wrong choice.. one that now many people have to carry the consequences!!!
belboz
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 3:22 p.m.
I still can't get over the possible crime of "allowing intoxicated people to loiter..."! That is what drunk people do - they loiter! What, you want them to drive drunk? I thought that was the whole point of the article. Now you're telling me when they stand around - wondering how in the heck they are going to get home - they are breaking the law! Poor bikini clad girls covered in Jello just can't catch a break. I'm going to give out my number as a hotline in case they ever have a problem again... Hi Lar I Ous!
Dave66
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 1:55 p.m.
It's weird, I agree with just about every comment today. Must be all this fresh air and sunshine that I've been getting recently. Yes, I want pictures of a 29 year old drunk chick in a bikini and Jell-O. Yes, it sounds like just about every bar that I've ever been to. Yes, drunk drivers are at fault for their own behavior. And finally, yes, this would totally NOT be a story except for the implied lascivious content when talking about drunk 29 year old bikini girls and their Jell-O. How many other people were pulled over for drunk driving that night? Do we get articles about the rest of them? Apart from the titillating hint of naughty, what is there in this story that makes it interesting? Just *hearing* about a girl in a bikini and covered in Jell-O? Note that if it's pictures of that sort of thing that you want, Google is more than happy to supply you with a lifetime supply of pictures to look at.
Regular Voter
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 12:36 p.m.
Once again it is the DINOs who have all the fun. When will the RINOs get a bar where they can go to let their hair down?
Adam Jaskiewicz
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 12:26 p.m.
You need a permit to entertain people? Wow; I better cut back on the jokes.
lumberg48108
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 12:06 p.m.
What a misleading headline - it reads as if the jello match was the problem when it further states: "The violations include: possible sale of alcohol to intoxicated individuals, allowing intoxicated people to loiter, giving alcoholic beverages away for free, and entertaining without an entertainment permit." Other than a possible lack of permit - the jello match is not under investigation. Change the headline!
BenWoodruff
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 12:03 p.m.
Once again, Chief Lewis overreacting. Yes, bust (no pun intended) the wrestling drunk driver, but for God's sake, it's a BAR. How much small town justice do the citizens of Milan need? Free Tim Casey!
ypsi_realist
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 11:59 a.m.
I am going to reserve judgement on this article, until I see pics.
Dr.Dre
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 11:52 a.m.
The only reason this is news at all, is that the young lady was in a bikini and covered in jello. No one was hurt. Another waste of taxpayer's money to pursue something as ridiculous as this. Being there, I witnessed a very orderly crowd having a very good time. You news folks and government agencies need to report and investigate things that are more important and worthwhile...
Eric D
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 10:38 a.m.
You drink, you drive. It's YOUR fault! not the bar, not your friends, not your mom or dads. YOUR FAULT. No one else is behind that wheel. Life is full of choices. You make bad ones and it's YOUR FAULT!
belboz
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 10:04 a.m.
"The violations include: possible sale of alcohol to intoxicated individuals, allowing intoxicated people to loiter, giving alcoholic beverages away for free, and entertaining without an entertainment permit, Miller said." Ha... Sounds like every bar I've ever been in. Shut them all down Judge Smails!