Will Filling Station Face Complaint Over Booze Incident?

A couple who left the patio area of a downtown restaurant/tavern with drinks in hand has been cited with open alcohol violations in an incident police said was documented for review by the police chief and city officials, who could consider punitive measures.

Whether the new St. Charles Liquor Control Commission will pursue a complaint against The Filling Station, 300 W. Main St., remains to be seen — taverns and restaurants are supposed to ensure patrons do no leave their premises with open alcohol. But police did cite the couple involved, according to police reports.

Dennis J. Lang Jr., 23, of the 6N300 block of Whitmore Circle, and Adrianna L. Guthrie, 22, of Port Washington, Wis., were each cited with having open alcohol in a public place after an officer on patrol in the downtown noticed the couple with drinks in hand outside the establishment and ordered them to stop.

The couple told the officer they had left The Filling Station with the drinks after seeing others do so. The officer took the couple back to the establishment to determine whether or not the owner wanted to press charges related to the glasses they took with them. The owner declined.

The officer informed owner Peter J. Milligan that police would document the incident. Typically, that means a report on the incident would be forwarded to the police chief, the mayor and the City Council.