North : LA HABRA : Bar’s Permit to Entertain Is Revoked

Playing pool and listening to jukebox music is no longer allowed at the Leaky Tiki Tavern, the bar where police have arrested patrons on suspicion of dealing drugs and fighting.

City Council members voted last week to revoke the bar’s entertainment permit, citing criminal activity, disorderly conduct, poor management and numerous police calls.

At a public hearing on the matter, Leaky Tiki owner, Janet Escobosa, and her attorney, Ted Cromwell, pleaded with the council to reconsider their action. They challenged police reports of several calls made to the bar, saying the people arrested for such offenses as fighting were not patrons of the Leaky Tiki.

“It is clearly the perception of the Police Department of the city of La Habra that this particular establishment has become an undue burden,” City Atty. Richard Jones said.

The council agreed.

Escobosa said she believes the bar has been treated unfairly. She said she does not allow her employees to serve drinks to people who appear to be already drunk, and that what they do when they leave or are denied service is beyond her control.

“I don’t think we have a duty to take them home and tuck them in bed,” Cromwell said.

Police Capt. John Rees said: “The management and ownership of the bar is not . . . running the bar in a responsible manner.”

The city had revoked Leaky Tiki’s entertainment permit last year, but a Municipal Court ruled the bar could keep its entertainment permit if it beefed up security. The council found last week that the security was insufficient to maintain order and again revoked the entertainment permit, which had allowed a jukebox and pool tables.

“I think the people of this city are getting a little tired of this,” Councilman James Flora said.

Rees said he is holding meetings with Escobosa to work out a plan on how to better manage the bar’s activities.