Daily news blog for Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood

 

Caffe Vita & Via Tribunali owner Michael McConnell charged with assault, hit and run, & DUI

April 8th, 2010 by Thea

Seattle restaurateur Michael McConnel, who owns two local chains–Caffe Vita and Via Tribunali (both of which have locations in Queen Anne) and has a hand in a number of other Seattle enterprises–has been charged with assault, hit and run, and DUI by city prosecutors this week after he allegedly crashed into another motorist and proceeded to attack him on the evening of Wednesday, March 31.

QueenAnneView obtained the police report and charging documents detailing the strange series of events that night, first reported by SeattleCrime. According to the SPD report, a car driven by McConnell rear-ended another vehicle at the intersection of Broadway and James Street near Seattle University, while the victim was waiting at a red light at around 6 p.m. on the 31st. According to the report, McConnell refused to exchange information with the victim, who reported smelling alcohol on his breath. The police report also states that McConnell’s lawyer, who arrived at the scene moments later in a separate vehicle, allegedly attempted to cut a deal with the victim, offering him $1,500 for the damages to his car if he agreed not to call the police. McConnell reportedly refused to pay and then walked off, returning a few moments later when he allegedly punched the victim in the chest with both fists. According to the report, McConnell then left on foot, leaving his car behind.

Police caught up with McConnell later that evening at one of his restaurants, arrested him and took him to the East Precinct, where he reportedly refused to take a breathalyzer test. SeattleCrime reports that McConnell has pleaded not guilty on all charges.

Both Caffe Vita and Via Tribunali serve beer and alcohol at several locations. Back in December Caffe Vita applied for a liquor license at its Queen Anne location, at 813 5th Ave N. And last month the Washington State Liquor Control Board approved licenses for both the Queen Anne and Capitol Hill coffee outposts.

However, WSLCB spokeswoman Anne Radford told SeattleCrime that the board may seek cancellation of these licenses should the McConnell receive criminal convictions. McConnell is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, May 3.

(Photo taken from McConnell’s Facebook page).

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Man arrested for assaulting officers at Seattle Center

March 18th, 2010 by Thea

At approximately 1:25 a.m. this morning, Thursday, March 18 officers were called to the Seattle Center groups by the campus security personnel to address two men that had been detained for “crashing through several bollards that are meant to keep vehicles from entering onto the Center grounds,” according to the SPD blotter. From the blotter:

Both subjects were clearly intoxicated, officers attempted to take one of the suspects him into custody for DUI, when he immediately began to resist. The suspect refused to comply with orders to stop resisting. He bit one of the officers on the hand and repeatedly kicked at them.

The suspect was finally taken into custody, and as officers were putting him in the back seat of the patrol car for transport, he rolled onto his back and kicked them.  He grazed one officer’s chest and kicked the other officer in the leg.

The suspect was arrested and transported to the North Precinct. At the Precinct, the suspect who is active duty Navy, continued to be belligerent, repeatedly asking, “This is how you do the Military?” & “What? So now I’m some kind of —— terrorist? I blow —— up?”

The officer asked the suspect how he thought he Navy would feel about his actions, and he replied, “—— the Navy!! I don’t give a ——- about the Navy!!”

The suspect was booked into King County Jail on Investigation of Assault, and additional charges of DUI, Reckless Driving, Hit & Run & Trespass are currently being requested.

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