By Greg Grisolano
ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com
PITTSBURG, Kan. — A sting conducted by area law officers and members of Kansas Alcoholic Beverage Control resulted in the arrest Wednesday night of a bartender and a manager at Twisters Club, 136 S. Highway 69.
Fletcher Hill, lead agent for the investigation with the state agency, said two 18-year-old women who were undercover showed their IDs to the bartender before being served drinks.
Bartender Jennifer R. Bishop, 27, of Pittsburg, was arrested on two counts of furnishing intoxicants to minors.
Club manager Daniel R. Hofer, 47, of Arma, also was arrested. He is accused of violating a county resolution that mandates that a drinking establishment maintain a ratio of food sales of 30 percent if people younger than 21 are to be allowed to enter.
In addition to court hearings on the charges, penalties could be imposed on the club, according to Hill.
“It could be anything up to a monetary fine and revocation of the liquor license,” he said. “That’s a separate administrative hearing (from the charges).”
Hill said he did not know whether any previous stings had been conducted on employees of Twisters, but he noted that his agency previously had assisted the state fire marshal’s office with some “capacity concerns.”
Crawford County Sheriff Sandy Horton said the owners of Twisters were “flagrantly violating” the county’s ordinance regarding food sales.
“They were in direct violation,” he said. “They were not selling food. There was no food on the premises. They did not even attempt to comply in the slightest way.”
Horton said Wednesday’s sting is the latest in a long string of incidents at the club, including a report of shots fired last Wednesday after the bar closed.
“Deputies responded and found a small pool of blood in the parking lot,” he said. “No local hospitals reported gunshot victims. At this point, we still don’t have a clear understanding of the event.
“There’s nothing close to this anywhere else in the county. To date in 2007, we’ve responded to 12 fight calls and arrested four people, two burglary calls, two hit-and-runs. Glancing at 2006, there are at least 35 calls at Twisters. You’re talking about a place that’s only open three days a week.”
Twisters is open Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Pittsburg police said they also have responded to calls at the club.
When reached Thursday at the club for comment, owner Pete Hofer Jr., also of Arma, declined to comment, pending a discussion with his lawyer.
“I really don’t know what’s taken place,” said Hofer, who said he was not at the club on Wednesday night when the sting was conducted.
Sheriff’s plan
Crawford County Sheriff Sandy Horton said Thursday that he plans to speak with state officials and the Crawford County prosecutor about filing an injunction against the club.
“I will ask, but I don’t know if I’ll get one,” he said. “There’s nothing that would restrict their operation at this time. As long as they’re open, they can certainly expect frequent law enforcement visits.”
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