CRIME: TASTE LOUNGE OWNER DISPUTES POLICE CLAIMS

The owner of Cape Girardeau's most infamous nightclub is fighting to keep his liquor license and shed what he calls his bar's unfair image.

But Michael Pryor, who bought the Taste Lounge on Good Hope Street 10 years ago, says he's being stymied by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. In fact, he's accusing police of trying to run him out of business and claims the police chief told him not to invest any more money in his club, indicating it won't be open for long.

"I don't want to say anything bad about the police ... I just want them to cooperate with me," Pryor said.

The City Council gave the Taste a probationary six-month liquor license in June after Police Chief Rick Hetzel asked the council simply to revoke the club's license. The chief claimed a high number of calls, some involving guns and knives, made the bar a drain on police resources.

Pryor counters that he spent thousands of dollars trying to improve conditions around his business. Last spring, he purchased three lots next to his business and tore down a condemned house used to shield gambling and drug deals. He built a fence along the east side of the Taste to keep troublemakers from hiding in the darkness beside his building.

Hetzel was unavailable for comment on Wednesday, but other police said Pryor's efforts haven't kept problems from happening.

"We realize that Michael Pryor is making every effort to create a better situation around his business," Lt. Carl Kinnison said. "He has done more than the police have asked. But the problems in that vicinity are just continuing."

Pryor, 46, worked at Proctor & Gamble for 26 years and planned for the Taste to be his retirement income.

When he voiced his concerns to Tom Neumeyer, the city councilman whose district includes the Taste, Neumeyer suggested Pryor write a letter explaining his side to the council.

It's too early to say whether the Taste will lose its license, Neumeyer said.

"If this were a football game, it would be like making a decision about the winner and loser at half-time," he said.

But Pryor doesn't believe the "game" has been fairly played and, as an example, points to the most recent police report involving his club.

Differing views

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, six persons were arrested after a fight on Good Hope Street attracted a large crowd. Three were charged with disturbing the peace and the rest with failure to disburse.

Pryor said he was surprised by the police version Sunday's incident. He recalls that he was closing his business at 1:30 a.m. and saw a crowd forming about a block west of the Taste at the intersection of Middle Street.

He walked in the direction of the disturbance, found between 30 to 50 people watching a fight and encouraged them to leave.

Police told the crowd to disperse repeatedly and finally sprayed Mace. The crowd cleared.

Pryor said he went back to the Taste, and a person from the crowd asked if he could come in and wash the Mace out of his eyes. Pryor said he obliged.

As Pryor left the Taste at 1:45 a.m., he a police officer drove down and stopped in front of the bar. The officer wanted to thank him for intervening to break up the crowd, Pryor said.

But he later was stunned to read about a police report on the fight. The location of the fight was listed either as the 400 block of Good Hope St. or 402 Good Hope St., although both sides agree there was no fighting inside the Taste.

The fighting actually took place closer to another bar, J.B. Taverne, also known as Ed's Bar, at 521 Good Hope St., Pryor said.

Considering that other businesses in the area were closed at 1:30 a.m., Capt. Steve Strong said it was reasonable for police to state in reports that the fighting took place at or near the Taste.

"We had circumstantial evidence," he said. "Where else did the people come from?"

If the crowd did come from the Taste, Pryor should be responsible, said Neumeyer.

"If it was his clientele, the location of the fighting doesn't make much difference," he said.

J.B. Taverne closes at the same time as the Taste on weekends. However, the majority of its customers are white, Pryor said, while his are mostly black. The crowd gathered on Good Hope Street was black.

Jane Brown, owner of J.B. Taverne, was unavailable for comment late Wednesday.

J.B. Taverne does not have as many problems as the Taste, which has more incidents requiring police response than any other bar in Cape Girardeau, Strong said. Police responded to at least five calls from inside and nearby the Taste in July and August alone. In September, a man was stabbed inside the lounge.

Pryor says no one can expect a bar not to have a fight. It's the nature of the business. But after they leave the Taste, they are not his responsibility.

"I can't be held accountable for their actions after they leave," Pryor said.

Police made a videotape of Sunday's fight and say there could be more arrests after they've reviewed it. A reporter's request to see the tape was denied.

Asking for help

Pryor insists he's doing all he can to keep his liquor license. Bottles and beer cans that accumulate in the 400 block of Good Hope Street don't come from his bar, but Pryor said he makes sure they're picked up. All of his drinks are served in glasses, which are not permitted outside, he said.

If police would enforce the city's loitering ordinance, Pryor said less trash would be thrown and fewer problems would occur on his block.

Strong could not recall any calls made by Pryor complaining about loitering. Police will always respond to such calls, he said.

"He may have a loitering issue, but he's the one who has to tell us," Strong said.

Pryor said he's talked with Strong and other police about his loitering problem and was told they would assist him. He said he hasn't called police to complain about each occurrence, but he will if he has to.

While Pryor would like to see police increase patrols around his business, police have pulled back in recent months. With about eight officers working a normal shift, police can't afford to commit several officers to patrol around the Taste, Strong said.

Pryor said the struggle has made him consider giving up the bar business.

"Anybody gets frustrated," he said. "Then you calm yourself down, get your wits together and proceed with your business."