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First Posted: 3/12/2014
WILKES-BARRE — Two people have been charged with selling alcohol without a license at a shuttered tavern on South Main Street.
State police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement charged Prince A. Rodriguez, 28, of Wilkes-Barre, and Tiffany M. Timko, 24, of Blakely, with running a speakeasy at Outsiders Bar and Restaurant on Feb. 9 and Feb. 22.
In January, a judge’s ruling essentially shut down the bar.
The bar owner sought to stay open while he appealed a decision by the state Liquor Control Board denying to renewal its liquor license. Luzerne County Lisa Gelb denied that request.
Members of the state police liquor enforcement unit, along with Wilkes-Barre police and state Department of Parole and Probation officers, raided the bar on Feb. 22. The raid was the result of a month-long investigation into sales of alcohol without a license, according to a news release.
Liquor and money was confiscated from the property.
A day before the raid, city police investigated a large fight outside Outsiders on Feb. 21.
Michael Andre, 23, of Queens, N.Y., was cited with two counts of disorderly conduct and one count each of resisting arrest and public drunkenness. Police allege Andre fought with patrons and ignored commands to stop.
The bar has a history of operational violations, and was the scene of a deadly shooting in October.
Michael Onley, 34, a disc jockey known as DJ Mo, was fatally shot in the patio area of Outsiders on Oct. 13, 2013. Witnesses stated gunfire originated near a silver or gray vehicle, possibly a Mercedes Benz, that was traveling on South Pennsylvania Avenue when Onley was killed, according to search warrant affidavits.
On Monday, police and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office served a search warrant for DNA from Roberto Battle, 25, of Wilkes-Barre. Battle is facing drug-trafficking charges in Lackawanna County, according to court records.
Court records indicate Battle was arrested by state police at Dunmore in May 2012. He was released from the Lackawanna County Prison on May 17, 2012, when his bail was modified from $25,000 to unsecured.
An arrest warrant was issued by Lackawanna County Court on Aug. 1, 2012, on allegations Battle violated bail conditions. He was jailed on March 3, court records say.
No one has been charged in the homicide.