Rochester restaurant Casa Campo closed pending city meeting after police altercation
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The City of Rochester has ordered Casa Campo, a restaurant on East Main Street, to close pending a meeting with the city. The order came from the mayor’s office on Monday.
“We will not tolerate it,” Mayor Malik Evans said in a statement.
News10NBC Chief Investigative Reporter Berkeley Brean spoke with one of the restaurant’s owners earlier on Monday, but the owner said he wasn’t ready to talk. The restaurant is now locked.
On Sunday at 5 p.m., bikes and ATVs were gathered in and around the restaurant’s parking lot. When police arrived to break it up, the Rochester Police Department says one of the ATVs drove at an officer and flipped him in the air. Police say that when they wrestled the driver off the ATV, his brother jumped on and tried to drive away, dragging police with him.
Two brothers, Alexander and Alexis Torres, were arrested and charged with assault and resisting arrest. Alexander was also charged with possession of a gun.
Rev. Verdis Robinson, who lives two doors down from Casa Campo, was struck by the noise and the police response on Sunday.
“I dread the weekends,” Rev. Robinson said. “It seemed really unnecessary, but I’m glad that it happened because it kind of sends a message that this is not tolerable, and if it happens again, they will descend again. So find another place, please, and thank you.”
Last weekend, police say they charged the owners of Casa Campo with criminal nuisance. Now, the city has closed the restaurant.
“Not only will law enforcement be working to address those who choose to operate illegal vehicles on our city streets, we will also target those who encourage them to gather,” said Mayor Evans. “We will not tolerate it. Our traffic and specialized ATV details are up and running and will confiscate these vehicles. And our law department will continue to close businesses that encourage bad behavior.”
Casa Campo is closed pending a meeting with the City’s Law Department in which both sides will identify an agreeable path forward.
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