Published: June 30, 2008 11:36 am      

More than 200 cited at downtown Goshen bar

More than 200 area young people were cited — mostly for being minors in a bar — when local law enforcement and state excise officers visited a Goshen club Saturday night.

Goshen, Elkhart County, Indiana State Police and Excise Police and prosector’s investigators went to 7 Segundo’s bar, 222 S. Third St., at 11:55 p.m. Saturday after authorities have received numerous complaints in the 10 months that the bar has been in operation.

The bar is only open Friday and Saturday nights, and the owner attempted to operate it as a family establishment, explained Goshen Assistant Police Chief Mike McCloughen.

But the owner was warned in January that the proper changes had not been made at the bar to allow customers under the age of 21 to visit.

Excise police informed the owner again Saturday night that the establishment was still “a bar” and patrons under 21 years old should not be in the business.

Police then interviewed everyone in the bar, found about six underaged people who had been drinking, made one public intoxication arrest and cited about 45 young people between the ages of 18 and 21 into Goshen City Court. They are charged with being minors frequenting a bar.

Chief McCloughen said there were 83 juveniles (under 18) who were cited and released to parents.

Goshen police, state police and state excise police all issued citations, with the total expected to be more than 200 people.

“The establishment was also cited for numerous violations,” McCloughen said, but he did not yet have that report today from excise police.

“We found one person with a false ID,” McCloughen said.

While there were about 80 police officers involved in the raid, no one was hurt.

McCloughen said the owner, who was not named in police reports, was cooperative and believed the business was allowed to have patrons under age 21 there.

McCloughen said the enforcement action was taken because of many complaints of fights, drug activity, loud music and trash in parking lots. He said cocaine was found on the floor in several locations, but ownership was not established.

McCloughen explained that when police arrived, there were about 400 people in the bar and about 40 in line for admittance and outside the building. He said the building may be rated for 435 patrons.

He explained the visitors paid $35 in advance or $45 at the door to enter and listen to a top-rated band from Mexico.

He pointed out that the business may still open and operate, if owners follow the state rules governing bars.

But McCloughen said he expects state officials to initiate a review of the alcoholic beverage license by both local and state Alcoholic Beverage Commission boards in the coming months.

The following were arrested by Goshen City police on a charge of illegal entry into a tavern by a minor. All were released on a memorandum to appear in court.

Martin Rosas Jr., 18, Elkhart; Jessica L. Large, 18, Goshen; Rosa Delgado, 20, Middlebury; Julio Chavez-Martinez, 20, Coldwater, Mich.; Pedro L. Soto, 20, Goshen; Antonio Castillo, 18, Goshen; Eshkeilen A. Hernandez, 19, Goshen; Marissa Magana, 20, Goshen; Rojelio Cervantes, 19, Nappanee; Maria B. Cervantes, 18, Warsaw; Miguel Romo, 19, Goshen; Luis A. Macias, 19, Pierceton; Jose F. Juarez, 18, Elkhart; Juan C. Torres, 19, Ligonier; Jorge Castaneda, 20, Sturgis, Mich.; Alberto Cruz, 18, Ligonier; Nora Zermeno, 18, Ligonier; Roberto Hernandez, 20, Sturgis, Mich.; Sergio Ramires, 20, Ligonier; Ana L. Bautista, 20, Goshen; Amy N. Russell, 20, Bremen; Alejandro Sandoval-Silva, 18, Goshen; Federico Fabian-Mariano, 20, Elkhart; Rosa M. Rubio, 20, Sturgis, Mich.; Alfredo Cedeno, 20, Goshen; Fredy Sanchez-Cortes, 20, Goshen; Jorge A. Diaz, 20, Bremen; Eddie A. Fraire, 18, Elkhart; Virgelina N. Mejia, 18, Goshen; Alma J. Torres, 20, Goshen; Maricela Macias, 20, Elkhart; Cesar Luevano, 20, Goshen; Noemi Saldivar, 18, Warsaw; Edith Cerezo, 19, Goshen; Adrian Andrade, 18, Goshen; Jesus Martinez, 20, Etna Green; Jose G. Castillo, 19, Goshen; Yasmin Andrade, 19, Ligonier; Ami Salas, 20, Goshen; Maria Osorio, 20, Goshen; and Ramon Serrano, 20, Goshen

Luis Munoz, 21, Sturgis, Mich., was arrested on a charge of public intoxication and Antonio B. Campos, 20, Ligonier, was arrested on charges of illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage and illegal entry into a tavern.