Owner of Troubled Staten Island Bar Arrested for Illegal Gambling
The owner of two Staten Island bars was charged this week with promoting gambling and posession of gambling records. Christopher Shaffer, owner of Bottomley's Tavern and Beer Goggles, allegedly took bets from an undercover officer in December.Shaffer denies being a bookmaker, and says that, while he does gamble at Atlantic City, the charges against him are bogus and a result of ulterior motives by authorities. He doesn't deny taking the play of the undercover cop, but calls the situation entrapment.
Both bars have been in running trouble with police. Beer Goggles was cited four times in less than a year for serving underage patrons, and was closed by authorities on January 16th for the repeated violations. The bar reopened January 25th after a court hearing.
Bottomley's was the location of the sting to catch Shaffer bookmaking.
In November, three employees at Beer Goggles were arrested for running two illegal gambling machines.
Also, the fourth underage citation resulted in officers ordering the bar closed for the night. This prospect was greeted by less than enthusiasm by two offduty firefighters who were customers at the time. The firefighters apparently got carried away in their protest against the premature closing, and the end result was both were arrested for felony assault against the police enforcing the closure.
Obviously, Shaffer is correct. If police cared to chase down every bookie on Staten Island, they'd be pulling patrons and owners alike from virtually every bar around. Shaffer, however, should have realized his past antics and legal problems would draw special attention to him. Looks like he and his customers caused so much trouble the word went out to shut him down, and activity which, in quieter establishments, might draw a blind eye, now became eligible for the microscope. Lesson learned?
